2. The Den
• Female polar bears have their first babies
when they are 5 or 6 years old.
• They dig a den to have their babies in
during October or November.
• They give birth in December or January.
• This is winter where polar bears live up
near the north pole.
4. Polar bear cubs
• Twin cubs are most common but female
polar bears can have 1 to 4 cubs.
• They weigh 400-600 grams and are about
30cm long when born, that’s about as long
as a ruler!
Twin cubs
5. Growing cubs
• The cubs are blind for the first month of
their lives.
• At 2 months their teeth grow and they start
to walk.
• At 4 months they weigh 15kg and leave
the den
6. Growing up
• They drink their mums milk until they are
nearly 2 and half years old.
• At 4 months they eat their first solid food,
usually seal.
7. Growing up
• By the time they are 8 months old they
weigh over 40kg and learn to hunt by
watching their mums.
8. Leaving home
• When they are around 30 months old the
mum chases the cubs away.
• The twins stay together for a while but
eventually split up once they are all grown
up
9. All grown up
• Male bears grow to around 450kg and
females 200kg and stand up to 150cm tall.
• Polar bears usually up to 25 years, but
many die before this due to starvation.
10. All grown up
• Male bears grow to around 450kg and
females 200kg and stand up to 150cm tall.
• Polar bears usually up to 25 years, but
many die before this due to starvation.
