The Polar Bear's Winter Diet
Polar bears primarily eat seals in the winter. They hunt seals by waiting near breathing holes in the sea ice and ambushing them when they surface for air.
Denning and Alternative Foods
Female polar bears den during winter to give birth and raise cubs, relying on fat reserves from previous seasons because hunting is difficult with snow cover and limited access to breathing holes.
While seals are the crucial food source, polar bears may occasionally eat carrion (including walrus, whale, or other polar bear carcasses) and sometimes birds or arctic foxes.
Seals provide the necessary energy for polar bears to survive and reproduce during the harsh winter months.