Scientists believe that these majestic omnivores evolved about two hundred thousand years ago from ancestors much like modern day brown bears. As their scientific name, Ursus Maritimus, or 'sea bear,' suggests, polar bears have adapted to the Arctic climate by becoming somewhat aquatic, able to swim long distances and spend considerable amounts of time in the Arctic's extraordinarily cold seas. Their distinctive white fur, another adaptation to life in the Arctic, serves a dual purpose, helping the bears blend in to their snowy surroundings while simultaneously channeling sunlight down to their dark, heat absorbing skin.

Roaming the ice that stretches beneath Ursa Major, the polar bear embodies the spirit of the Arctic. Respected and honored in Inuit culture, it is the largest known land predator, and perfectly suited to the harsh arctic climate.