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Frequently
called the "Lords of the Arctic", these
magnificent animals weigh an average of about 660 lb. for females, to more than
1,320 lb. for males. With their highly acute sense of smell, these skilled
hunters can pick up a scent 20 miles away and detect the presence of seals under
three feet of snow and ice. They have no natural enemies and, consequently no
fear.
The
best way to view the bears is from special vehicles designed to travel on the
tundra. From this safe and warm vantage point you can watch the polar bears
saunter, pigeontoed, as they forage for a meal. They sometimes approach to
within a few yards of the tundra vehicles to investigate - standing on their
hind legs, looking in the windows or sniffing with their sensitive noses. As
many as 150 bears pass through the area during the fall season.
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