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Polar Bear Mother and Cub

A polar bear and its cub in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska.
(Alan D. Wilson)

The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is found in the Arctic and classified as a vulnerable species by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This marine mammal can swim more than 30 miles when sea ice has receded due to warm temperatures. Listen to a podcast from Encyclopedia of Life that tells the story of two personal encounters with a polar bear, and find out more about its Arctic home.