Polar Bear Watch Interpretation Guide
Key Themes and Messages
1. Conservation of Biodiversity: Humans are part of the rich diversity of life,
and have the power to protect or destroy it.
Biodiversity is short for “biological diversity,” meaning the variety of life on Earth. Biodiversity
manifests in three levels: 1) the number and variety of life forms on Earth (species diversity),
2) the variety of communities in which they occur (ecosystem diversity), and 3) genetic
variation among individuals within a species and among species (genetic diversity). To protect
the variety of life on Earth, conservationists seek to maintain diversity at all three levels.
2. Ecosystem and Habitats: Living things exist within complex relationships in
ecosystems.
The Arctic is the equivalent of a very cold desert. Many areas get very little precipitation (less
than 10 inches of rain per year) and, as with a desert, the land looks featureless and “dead.”
But though many people think of the Arctic as a lifeless ice-block, it is a thriving wilderness
that supports hundreds of species in intricate harmony.
PBW actually represents the sub-arctic, where the winters are intensely cold, but where the
summers are relatively mild and polar bears in their southern range may be found wandering
along grassy shores as they wait for sea ice to re-form.
3. Climate Change: Disruptions to climate affect species and whole ecosystems.
A changing climate can have a variety of effects on habitats and ecosystems around the world,
disrupting not only average temperatures but patterns of precipitation and the frequency and
intensity of storms. As Earth’s overall climate changes, some ecosystems may become drier,
some may become wetter. Some species may shift their home ranges (or like polar bears,
have their ranges greatly diminished) or have migration patterns disrupted, all of which can
negatively affect other species that depend on them. Although climate change is related to
biodiversity in general, the topic is particularly relevant to PBW. The main threats to the
integrity of the Arctic wilderness, as it now exists, are climate change, as well as human
encroachment, and development.
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Polar Bear Watch Interpretation Guide
Global warming and climate change are not the same thing, but they are related. Global
warming refers to a rise in the average temperature of the entire Earth’s surface due to
increased levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Climate is the average pattern of
temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, precipitation, and atmospheric particle
count (among other variables) in a given region over long periods of time. The warming of
Earth’s surface is causing changes—disruptions—to climate. In fact, the term “global
warming” can lead to some misconceptions. Although Earth’s average temperatures as a
whole are increasing, not every location on Earth is heating up due to climate disruptions.
Some areas may actually become cooler as climate changes. Thus “climate change” is a more
appropriate term than “global warming.” Some argue that “climate disruption” is even more
accurate.
There is no dispute within the scientific community that climate change is occurring and that
human actions – i.e., the burning of fossil fuels, which results in the release of enormous
quantities of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere – is primarily responsible.
In bringing this message to Zoo visitors, our role is not to preach or take sides. Our role is to
present scientific facts, inspire, and encourage individuals to take responsibility and action.
We can lay out the evidence that supports the reality of climate change. We hope to share
stories of governments, industry, and individuals taking effective action to help stem global
warming. We can also give people ideas about how they can make a difference – the main
one being to become more energy-efficient at home.
4. Animal Care: The superior health, husbandry, and welfare of the animals
cared for in AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums is paramount.
Daily Care Many guests express concern about the bears living in Baltimore’s climate,
particularly on hot summer days. Interpreters should help guests understand that there is an
important difference between the Zoo’s bears and wild bears. The Zoo’s bears have lived in
this climate for many years and have acclimated. They are also able to tolerate the warmer
weather because of the daily care keepers take in managing the bears and their environment.
The Zoo’s bears have less fat due to a more controlled diet, which helps prevent
overheating. They are several hundred pounds lighter than their wild counterparts
would be.
The animals have choices in hot weather: they can go into the dens where it is cooler.
If they choose to stay in the yard, they also have shady spots and a pool.
Keepers give enrichment (e.g., ice treats) or encourage them to get into the pool. The
bears always have the choice to interact with enrichment or swim.
Moving around less conserves energy and helps prevents overheating.
Training
When we say “animal training” at the Zoo, we don’t mean teaching the animals
to perform tricks. We really mean giving keepers and the animals in their care tools to
communicate with each other effectively. When a keeper can train an animal to present a
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Polar Bear Watch Interpretation Guide
shoulder or move left or stand still while a particular husbandry or medical procedure is
completed, the care and management of that animal can unfold in a more comprehensive and
less stressful way than ever before possible. Plus, training is a form of enrichment for animals
at the Zoo – it challenges them mentally, which contributes to better quality of life.
Enrichment Items in animal exhibits that you wouldn’t find “in the wild” are not there by
accident. They are part of the Zoo’s enrichment program. Enrichment at the Zoo refers to
anything – an object or an experience – that stimulates play, exploration, and other natural
behaviors in animals. Toys, scents, hidden food, and behavioral training are all forms of
animal enrichment. The keepers work hard to come up with new ideas to keep the animals
stimulated and to encourage them to interact with their environment. It takes a lot of time
and effort every day, but it’s well worth it.
Some examples of enrichment that keepers provide for the polar bears include hanging toys
from the mesh in the dens; burying food items and toys in the mulch, sand, and dirt in the
yards; hanging toys off the log over the smaller pool so that the bears can play with them
while they’re swimming; spreading lard on the large windows for bears to lick off; and
offering ice treats embedded with fish or produce. In addition, the exhibit has plenty of big
logs and rocks for the bears to climb on and plenty of dirt to dig in.
5. Human–wildlife interactions: Humans and wildlife can coexist!
The people of Churchill, Manitoba, the area on which the exhibit is based, have generally
learned to live in close proximity to polar bears. You can read examples throughout the
exhibit, including a discussion of trick-or-treat rules that children follow on Halloween in
Churchill. Although our guests will not be encountering polar bears in the wild in Maryland,
they may very well encounter black bears and other wildlife. Respecting wild animals such as
bears in habitats that humans and these animals share is an important message for guests.
The Exhibit: Churchill, Manitoba
Churchill sits on the border between the sub-Arctic and the Arctic and at the crossroads of four
unique ecosystems – the boreal forest, the moist taiga, the open tundra, and the sea. The
region is home to hundreds of species of plants, insects, birds, and mammals whose ranges may
extend south into the forest or north into the High Arctic.
The Zoo could not realistically replicate the Churchill (or an Arctic) environment in Baltimore, so
instead the Zoo created an exhibit that simulates a travelogue. We use photos, a Tundra
Buggy®, and artifacts to simulate a trip to Churchill. While our approach in PBW is different
than in other sections of the Zoo, the goal for guest experience is very similar to that of other
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Polar Bear Watch Interpretation Guide
exhibits: to create an immersive experience that evokes a lasting, positive, emotional response
in every visitor.
The Zoo’s exhibit features three species of wildlife found in Churchill: polar bears, Arctic foxes,
and ravens. The first two are supreme Arctic specialists. The third – the raven – survives in the
Arctic and many other parts of the world.
Exhibit interpreters can help visitors achieve memorable, positive encounters with the animals
on exhibit by encouraging guests to stop, look, listen, and imagine how these animals are
responding to their current environment and how they might be responding to their Arctic
environment. A sleeping polar bear, for example, is not a lazy or bored bear; a sleeping polar
bear is conserving energy and/or staying cool.
Exhibit Features
Polar Bear Watch opened in fall 2003, providing a habitat for the Zoo’s polar bears that includes
more naturalistic features and opportunities to give the bears more choices. Unlike the old
exhibit, which featured a pool with a small rocky landing, this exhibit provides natural
substrates (grass, dirt) that the bears can dig and roll in. Features such as logs and rocks help
vary the landscape of the exhibit.
Polar Bears may be the stars of the exhibit, but PBW is not just about bears! The role of the
exhibit interpreter is to help guests experience animals and features that they might otherwise
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Polar Bear Watch Interpretation Guide
overlook. Drawing guests’ attention to these features can open opportunities for sharing some
of the main themes and messages of the exhibit.
Footprints in the concrete
Whose tracks are crossing the path? Polar bear, arctic fox, and raven! Arctic foxes—and
sometimes ravens—scavenge the remains of polar bear prey. Living things interact in
complex relationships in ecosystems.
Ptarmigan nest
Look for the ptarmigan nest tucked long the edge of the path. Ptarmigans are hardy,
grouse-like birds that live in extreme northern environments year round and nest on the
ground. The birds molt three times per year, changing color with the season, allowing
them to remain camouflaged against the landscape. Camouflage is a great adaptation
that many animal species use to help them survive in their environments.
Snowy owl nest
Like ptarmigans, snowy owls nest directly on the tundra. The female lays her eggs in a
small depression on the ground that she lines with moss or grass. Ptarmigans and snowy
owls nest on the ground because where they live there are few trees.
Stream
As sun melts the permafrost in the spring, ice melts into ponds, steams, and seasonal
lakes. The newly moistened ground bursts forth with colorful mosses, lichens, and
wildflowers. These are not features most people associate with polar bear habitat, but
they are in fact part of the habitat of the sub-arctic, the range of a number of polar bear
populations.
Raven nest
Look above the ravens to the left to see their nest of twigs, bones, and moss. Although
the common (or northern) raven inhabits an enormous range that covers large parts of
the northern hemisphere, distinct sub-populations tend to live in more concentrated
areas year round. Common ravens can range as far north as the High Arctic, but return
to the tree line that separates the boreal forest from the tundra to nest and breed.
Polar bear trap
Churchill residents do all they can to keep polar bears from visiting the town. Residents
collect and process their trash in ways that won’t attract bears, feed their pets indoors,
and educate their children about how to behave around a polar bear. The town has a
successful polar bear management program called “Polar Bear Alert” that aims to
minimize human–bear encounters. During bear season, officers patrol the town’s
perimeter constantly, trapping and relocating bears that wander too near. This trap is
like one used in Churchill, where a “problem” bear entering the town is lured into the
trap with the prey scents. The trap is then moved to a holding facility where it remains
until it can be safely moved away from the town or even out to the sea ice. Although
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Polar Bear Watch Interpretation Guide
children often like simply to climb in and out the trap here at the Zoo, it is a great exhibit
feature for starting conversations about the “humans and wildlife can coexist” message.
Inuksuk
The tall stone formation in the right yard (“Yard 2”) of the polar bear enclosure is an
inuksuk. Native peoples created such towers because there were no other tall
landmarks to guide travelers in the wide-open tundra. In this exhibit, the keepers use
the inuksuk as a place to hide enrichment treats for the bears. The superior health,
husbandry, and welfare of the animals in AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums are
paramount!
Polar bear sculpture
Maryland artist Bart Walter made this life-size sculpture of a polar bear. This is a favorite
guest spot for photos.
Tundra Buggy
The Tundra Buggy can help guests get a feel for what it’s like to be an eco-tourist in
Churchill. Out on the tundra, wild polar bears often come right alongside the buggies.
These vehicles stick very strictly to established paths to minimize damage to the delicate
tundra ecosystem. (Humans are part of the rich diversity of life, and have the power to
protect or destroy it.)
The Zoo’s Tundra Buggy was actually used for polar bear tours in Churchill. When it was
retired from the fleet, it was shipped here, where it rode through the streets of
Baltimore before coming to rest in our exhibit. The buggy gives guests a unique view
over the two polar bear yards. It is also the location for a number of artifacts related to
the species on exhibit in PBW.
Animals of PBW
Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus)
Description
WEIGHT: Males 900–1300 lb; Females 450–600 lb
In the Wild
Habitat and Range
Circumpolar Arctic; more than 60% of wild polar bears live primarily in
Canada
Diet
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Polar Bear Watch Interpretation Guide
Carnivore: marine animals, primarily seals (ringed
seals); seal pups preferred because high in fat
some fish, berries, and kelp
Adaptations/Behaviors
Small ears and tail minimize heat loss
Two dense layers of fur and an additional layer of
blubber (up to 4.5 inches thick)
Large, furred paws act as oars in the water and
help distribute the bear’s enormous weight on
snow and ice
Foot pads are covered in small black bumps called
papillae that provide traction on ice.
Long, curved claws are effective for grabbing their
prey and also help them to grip the ice when
walking.
Large, sharp canine teeth and small, jagged teeth
cheek are perfect for ripping and tearing seal
meat.
Amazing sense of smell to detect prey
Long neck lets a polar bear reach down into cracks
in ice and at seal breathing holes to grab prey.
Excellent swimmers—they have been known to
swim more than 60 miles without a rest and have
been clocked swimming as fast as 6 miles per
hour. Although polar bears do not hunt while
swimming, they do need to be able to swim from
one block of sea ice—their hunting and mating
platform—to another.
Typically solitary, except for a mother with cubs
Not strictly territorial—a number of bears may be
seen in a relatively small area, though they do not
form a social group.
In summer, particularly in the southern range,
polar bears are on land and in a fasting state—
they cannot feed again until adequate sea ice reforms to permit hunting. As climate changes, and
the Arctic warms, sea ice is melting sooner and reforming later in the year, which stretches the
fasting period for the bears. Less sea ice also
stretches the swimming distance between patches
of sea ice, leading some bear to exhaustion and
drowning before finding adequate ice.
Lifespan
Captive: up to 39 yrs; Wild: 15–18yrs
Polar Bears at the Zoo
Diet
Polar Bear Chow made by Mazuri,
produce, fish, prey items, bones, meat
Name and Sex
Male ‘Magnet’ – larger
Female ‘Anoki’ – smaller, whiter
Age
Male – DOB 12/1/88
Female – DOB 11/20/96
Interesting facts
Magnet was born at Toledo Zoo. He got
his name because he never left his
mother’s side.
Magnet weighs between 750 and 900
lbs; Anoki weighs between 500 and 600
lbs (both are heavier in winter)
For more information about polar bears:
Maryland Zoo website
http://www.marylandzoo.org/animalsconservation/mammals/polar-bear/
Polar Bears International
http://www.polarbearsinternational.org/
(materials for a wide variety of levels)
IUCN/SSC Polar Bear Specialist Group
http://pbsg.npolar.no/en/
(materials are high level)
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Polar Bear Watch Interpretation Guide
Ecosystem Relationships
The polar bear is the dominant predator in its range and has no predators other than humans
and, on rare occasions, other polar bears.
Depends on sea ice to serve as a hunting platform and also for mating and denning locations.
Reproduction
Experience delayed implantation—the fertilized egg does not implant into the uterine wall
immediately. Eggs fertilized in spring generally do not implant and begin development until fall.
Breeding occurs March to May; implantation occurs in autumn; cubs born late November to
mid-January
1–2 offspring per litter
Active
Diurnal
Threats and Conservation Status
Conservation dependent; IUCN red list classification: Vulnerable
Primary threat: Climate change (loss of sea ice for hunting)
Hunting/over-exploitation
Pollution (e.g., from oil and gas drilling, PCBs, pesticides)
Tourism (e.g., presence of tourists can negatively affect bear behavior and reproductive success)
Other Facts
Polar bear fur looks white but really isn’t. Each hair is clear and hollow.
A polar bear’s skin is black. Note: There is a misconception that polar bear hair conducts
ultraviolet light and heat to the skin, helping to keep the bear warm—studies have shown this
hypothesis to be false.
A polar bear is so well insulated that it has to worry more about overheating than about
freezing!
Polar bears do not hibernate.
Raven (Corvus corax)
Description
Jet-black with iridescent purple and blue-green patches on their
wings and throats
LENGTH: 22–27 in. WEIGHT: 24-58 oz (about 1 ½ to 3 ½ lbs)
In the Wild
Habitat and Range
Throughout the Northern Hemisphere
Can be found in forest, tundra, grassland, cities, deserts, and sea coast habitats
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Diet
Omnivore: animal carcasses, rodents, grains,
seeds
Adaptations/Behaviors
Highly social and intelligent!
Adaptable opportunists—allows them to
exploit many different habitats and food
sources
They have excellent memories that allow them
to relocate food that was cached months
earlier
Have a huge range of vocalizations that may be
second only to human speech. In their
“repertoire,” ravens have alarm calls, chase
calls, territorial calls, and even calls for when
their nests have been disturbed.
Lifespan
Captive: 24 yrs; Wild: unknown
Ecosystem Relationships
They are both predators and scavengers that
will work cooperatively to secure a meal. For
example, if ravens encounter a polar bear
feeding, one or two birds may distract the bear
while the others steal bits from the kill.
Common (or Northern) Ravens at the Zoo
Diet
prey items, produce, invertebrates, meat
Names and Sex
Edgar and Bob, both female
Ages
Edgar is approx. 17 years old (in 2013)
Bob is approx. 10 years old (in 2013)
Interesting facts/behaviors
Expert food cachers! Constantly hide,
relocate, and re-hide food
Both were injured in the wild and nonreleasable by Arizona game and Fish Dept.
These are NOT the individuals that go to
football games.
For more information about ravens:
Maryland Zoo website
http://www.marylandzoo.org/animalsconservation/birds/common-raven/
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/commo
n_raven/id
Reproduction
Form devoted pairs and may mate for life
Construct enormous nests of twigs and other found objects
Lay 4–6 eggs per clutch; female incubates eggs for about 3 weeks, during which time the male
brings her food
Chicks remain in the nest for about 4 weeks; both parents feed the chicks by regurgitating food
Active
Diurnal
Threats and Conservation Status
Not threatened
Other Facts
Ravens can imitate some words and sounds such as a dog’s bark or a car driving down the road.
Some ravens have learned to count.
The common raven is the largest species of songbird and the largest all-black bird in the world.
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Polar Bear Watch Interpretation Guide
Arctic Fox (Alopex lagopus)
Description
Thick white fur over whole body (except nose) in winter
Small rounded ears, short muzzle, short legs
LENGTH: 18–27 in
WEIGHT: 5–9 lb
In the Wild
Habitat and Range
Circumpolar arctic and sub-arctic
Alpine and arctic tundra, coastal areas
Diet
Omnivore: They hunt, steal, scavenge and eat whatever they can, including fish, crustaceans,
birds, bird eggs, and their favorite small mammal (and
the main staple of their diet)—lemmings
Arctic Foxes at the Zoo
Diet
Diet is Iams dog chow, prey items,
and meat
Adaptations/Behaviors
Their winter coat is the densest and warmest of any
Name and Sex
land mammal and covers every part of their bodies,
Male ‘Sly’ – larger; long ears;
including the soles of their feet
keeps same coat color all year
Brownish-gray summer coats camouflage the foxes in
Female ‘Cleo’ – smaller; short ears;
summer; thick white coats camouflage them in winter
coat color changes with season
The summer coat is much thinner than the white
winter coat
Ages
Small ears, short muzzle, and short legs help prevent
Male – DOB 6/15/01
heat loss
Female – DOB 6/29/06
During a blizzard, an Arctic fox will curl up in a tight
ball, wrap its tail around itself, and be blanketed by
Interesting facts/behaviors
snow. The snow acts as an insulator and the fur traps
Sly is a hybrid animal that was
body heat.
rescued/confiscated from a private
Foxes communicate in part by marking from scent
breeding facility.
glands near the tail; the glands produce a substance
with a “skunky” smell
For more information about arctic foxes:
Maryland Zoo website
Lifespan
http://www.marylandzoo.org/ani
Captive: 14 yrs; Wild: 14 yrs
malsconservation/mammals/arctic-fox/
Ecosystem Relationships
Animal Diversity Web
Where their ranges overlap, the arctic fox may be
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umic
outcompeted by the more aggressive red fox.
h.edu/accounts/Vulpes_lagopus/
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Polar Bear Watch Interpretation Guide
Preyed upon by red foxes, wolves, wolverines, and polar bears. Fox pups may be taken by birds
of prey as well, including snowy owls, large hawks, and jaegers.
Many foxes survive the winter by following polar bears onto the pack ice and scavenging their
kills.
Arctic fox reproductive success is closely ties to the size of the lemming populations in a given
year.
Reproduction
Monogamous and may mate for life
Mating generally occurs in early spring and females give birth to pups in late May, June, or early
July
During the brief Arctic spring and summer, the foxes move inland to mate and occupy extensive,
communal summer dens. Generations of the same family of foxes often return to the same den
each year.
Litters of 6 to 12 pups on average; large litters compensate for high pup mortality
Both parents feed and care for the pups for their first several weeks of life
Active
Diurnal
Threats and Conservation Status
Not threatened
Other Facts
Arctic foxes are the only land mammals to range as far north as polar bears.
The only land mammal native to Iceland