It's Ursus Maritimus Day

Sending you a whole lotta cuddles on Polar Bear Day! Polar bears are the world's largest land carnivore. Scientists estimate that there are between 22,000 to 27,000 polar bears. Adult male polar bears measure 2.5 to 3 meters (8 to 10 feet) tall. They weigh 250 to 770 kilograms (550 to 1,700 pounds). Adult female bears are smaller -- natch! They measure 1.8 to 2.5 meters (6 to 8 feet) tall and weigh 90 to 320 kilograms (200 to 700 pounds). Polar bears only live in the circumpolar North, and there are five countries where they are found: U. S. (Alaska), Canada, Russia, Denmark (Greenland), and Norway. Polar bears are a potentially threatened species rather than an endangered one. A threatened species is one that could easily become endangered. Threats to the bears include pollution, poaching, and industrial disturbances. Hunting could become a threat if populations are not well managed.