Stimuli Response
The polar bear uses the same systems as humans to detect stimuli, this being nerves, touch,sight, hearing, taste and smell. However, these systems are specially adapted for the polar bear's life style. The nerve system is the same as of that of humans.
The most important of these senses is smell, which can be used to smell a seal from more than one kilometre away and one metre under the ice and snow. This is an important hunting asset. A polar bear also uses its smell when waiting above a seal hole. When the polar bear smells the seal's breath it rushes forward and kills the seal.
Despite the fact that little is known about a polar bear's sense of touch, they have been observed delicately interacting with things using their nose, tongue and claws. The eyesight of polar bears are similar to humans, with one key difference. They have a protective membrane over their eyes, which helps to reduce ultraviolet light reflecting off the snow. The hearing range is almost the same as a dogs, however they cannot detect noise as high as a dog. It is believed that polar bears may communicate at low frequencies. Little is known about the sense of taste in a polar bear.
The most important of these senses is smell, which can be used to smell a seal from more than one kilometre away and one metre under the ice and snow. This is an important hunting asset. A polar bear also uses its smell when waiting above a seal hole. When the polar bear smells the seal's breath it rushes forward and kills the seal.
Despite the fact that little is known about a polar bear's sense of touch, they have been observed delicately interacting with things using their nose, tongue and claws. The eyesight of polar bears are similar to humans, with one key difference. They have a protective membrane over their eyes, which helps to reduce ultraviolet light reflecting off the snow. The hearing range is almost the same as a dogs, however they cannot detect noise as high as a dog. It is believed that polar bears may communicate at low frequencies. Little is known about the sense of taste in a polar bear.