Ursus maritimus
Sea ice and Arctic coasts. In North America that means Alaska and the Canadian Arctic, Hudson Bay, and northern Labrador. Huge tracks, often 8 to 12 inches, with fur that softens the pad edges.
What does a polar bear look like?
White or yellowish bear, longer neck than a black bear, no forest shoulder hump like a grizzly.
What do polar bear tracks look like?
A very large bear track with furred edges. Location does the identification: sea ice and Arctic coast, not a forest trail.
- Huge tracks, often 8 to 12 inches, with fur that softens the pad edges
- Five toes and long claw marks
- Trail on sea ice or a coastal gravel bar
- The animal is white or cream
- Scat may contain seal hair
What does polar bear poop look like?
Rarely the clue. Seal hair in a large scat on a coast is consistent. Do not handle droppings. Several species carry parasites that stay in the soil around a latrine.
Where you find it
Sea ice and Arctic coasts. In North America that means Alaska and the Canadian Arctic, Hudson Bay, and northern Labrador. Typical places: field. Year-round where the species lives. Tracks show best in mud, sand, and snow.
What to do next
- Watch from a distance
- Do not handle droppings
- If the animal is injured or inside a building, call a local wildlife officer
This page is a field guide, not a permit to approach wildlife. If an animal is injured, aggressive, or inside a house, call a local wildlife officer.
Animals it is confused with
- Grizzly bear identification
- All animal identification pages
- Identify an animal from a photo, track, or description
Where would a polar bear track be real?
Sea ice and Arctic coasts in Alaska and northern Canada, including Hudson Bay. A bear track in the Lower 48 woods is not a polar bear.
How to tell a polar bear from similar animals
Use the track, the dropping, and the place together. One print is not enough.
- Grizzly bear. Long claw marks are the field clue. Shoulder hump, dished face, long front claws.
Polar bear field marks
- Huge tracks, often 8 to 12 inches, with fur that softens the pad edges
- Five toes and long claw marks
- Trail on sea ice or a coastal gravel bar
- The animal is white or cream
Where the sign shows up
Sea ice and Arctic coasts. In North America that means Alaska and the Canadian Arctic, Hudson Bay, and northern Labrador. Typical places: field. Year-round where the species lives. Tracks show best in mud, sand, and snow.
A very large bear track with furred edges. Location does the identification: sea ice and Arctic coast, not a forest trail. Rarely the clue. Seal hair in a large scat on a coast is consistent.
Common questions
Where would a polar bear track be real?
Sea ice and Arctic coasts in Alaska and northern Canada, including Hudson Bay. A bear track in the Lower 48 woods is not a polar bear.