Polar bears keeping cool

☀️ Stay cool like a polar bear ☀️
In the wild, polar bears are more at risk of overheating then freezing, which is why climate change and their warming environment is dangerous for them. Here is how the Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat polar bears stay cool in the summer:
💦 Swimming
Other than the lake enclosure, which has an entire lake to swim in, each enclosure has a pool where they can submerge themselves completely in the cool water and paddle around. Even the smallest pool at the Habitat can easily hold two full grown male polar bears at once, with room to spare. Sometimes their staff will bring out kiddie pools and tubs filled with water too, and the bears will lay in those.
🌲 Shade & rocks
Staying out of the sun and in the shade helps, and since the bears have large natural enclosures, there is plenty of shade under trees to help them avoid the sun. They also lay on the rocks after swimming, drying off slowly while the rock keeps them cool.
💧 Water
The bears always have access to drinking water. Not only can they drink the pool and lake water, but inside there is always clean and cool water for them to drink as well. Polar bears actually get most of their water from their food, as their bodies are designed to absorb water that way, but having cold water to drink helps keep them cool when hot.
🍉 Frozen Treats
The bears have big paws so they can't hold popsicles or freezies, but they do love frozen watermelons! This helps keep them cool, as well as gives them a way to have more water. Their staff will also freeze fruit juice with fruit chunks and other frozen snacks for the bears to munch on, and you can do this for yourself too.
❄️ Air Conditioning
When being outside is just too much to handle, the bears always have the option to head inside where it is nice and cool. Their doors are only ever closed when staff are cleaning their rooms, so the bears are free to return inside out of the sun and heat. The Habitat is their home, and they are free to choose to do what they want, so sometimes visitors can't see them and hopefully they understand and can be patient. If the bears are inside when you visit, we recommend finding out when a keeper talk is that day to see a bear, or to schedule an experience where your chances of seeing a bear are much higher.
Camera footage from the live cams at the Habitat, text from People 4 Polar Bears facebook group

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Celebrating 20 years of world-class polar bear care in the world's largest facility dedicated solely to polar bears - donate to their care and learn more at www.PolarBearHabitat.ca 💙

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This video is oddly satisfying to watch