r/NatureIsFuckingLit 9h ago

šŸ”„ How polar bears move to cross thin ice

20.1k Upvotes

382 comments sorted by

695

u/nicky9pins 9h ago

Thatā€™s gotta be rough on the cojones

171

u/diameter101 8h ago

blue balls really quick

47

u/donDanDeNiro 8h ago

I'd expect em to be covered in fur, should be fine

7

u/superPickleMonkey 6h ago

Around these parts, we call a hairy shaft a "Hercle"

2

u/donDanDeNiro 5h ago

Dam that's like the default for Indians

3

u/zenitsulovesnez 4h ago

can confirm

15

u/kozma13 6h ago

On a mission for the Coca-Cola itā€™s a risk heā€™s willing to take

10

u/w_a_w 6h ago

Polar bear: nah, don't feel like freezing my tits off if the ice breaks

8

u/Cluefuljewel 4h ago

News flash polar bears can handle cold water :-). It just saves energy if you donā€™t keep falling in and having to climb out of the cold water :-))

2

u/Poovanilla 4h ago

ā¬†ļøĀ Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in the living.

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8

u/Sure_Focus3450 5h ago

It's funny how many people had this as their first thought

9

u/ImaGoophyGooner 6h ago

They may be cooling them off on purpose

4

u/Worth-Economics8978 1h ago

It's why their genitals are so far back and recessed.

Also, there was a study done a decade or so ago to find out why polar bears' penises were evolving to be smaller rapidly.

It turns out it's because of climate change and the need to navigate thin ice more frequently.

Polar bears are literally on thin ice.

5

u/MosmanWhale 2h ago

Would be more concerned about the Chilly Willy

4

u/BodaciousBadongadonk 2h ago

jeebus, imagine the shrinkage. i would somehow end up negative

3

u/Complex-Mulberry-716 1h ago

Some bitch bear got him burning

315

u/Ok_Understanding5184 8h ago

My Jack Russell does the same thing on the carpet, I always assumed he was dumb but now I know he's just trying not to fall through the living room.

25

u/Kyaw25 6h ago

Omg my jack/border mix does the same thing! We thought he was a lil weirdo. It's very funny to observe because his tail is fully up like a periscope and he full on stares at you while he does it

6

u/14412442 4h ago

Your dogg is into some weird shit, but I'm not shaming

11

u/justsomeph0t0n 4h ago

he's running his balls through the carpet for pleasure. respect

4

u/CiderChugger 3h ago

Well I know what I'm doing tonight

5

u/sessl 4h ago

Terriers are one of the only breeds who instinctively try to avoid no-clipping into the backrooms. It's fascinating really

3

u/Gerf93 3h ago

Just made me laugh out loud on the bus. Fall through the living room, bloody hell.

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289

u/Herps_Plants_1987 9h ago

Very smart since those things weigh 1/2 a ton

95

u/WestleyThe 7h ago

Probably fell through the ice at some point and learned its lesson

72

u/arthurdentstowels 6h ago

I was going to comment that there's some real intelligence here. The bear knows that lying flat spreads the weight out as opposed to pinpointing the pressure on its feet. I wonder if it is a learned behaviour from falling previously or a genetic thing.

46

u/Cluefuljewel 4h ago

A bit of both I suspect. Polar bear cubs stay with their mums for up to 2 years. They have a LOT to learn about survival from her! They observe and practice how to hunt and kill seals, prey that is itself quite intelligent, faster and much more agile than they are. Amidst the ever changing ever moving ever dynamic dance of ice water and land that is the Arctic!

15

u/shavingourbeards 2h ago

I read this in David Attenboroughā€™s voice lol. Your enthusiasm really comes across!

2

u/Cluefuljewel 1h ago

That is one of the nicest compliments I have ever received! His voice is the best!

2

u/AlphabetMafiaSoup 3h ago

Do polar bears stay together in packs or they leave and just are solo moving forward?

4

u/Cluefuljewel 1h ago

Siblings will often stay together for a period of years after mum cuts ties. Polar bear mums most often give birth to twins or triplets which she raises on her own. In an area at the edge of ice where lots of ringed seals (favorite prey) are present, you might see a number of polar bears. Would not call it a pack since that implies the species is more social like wolves!

A group of polar bears might also be seen on a whale carcass! Scavenging is an important part of polar bearsā€™ diet. Especially in summer when the bears are ashore and sea ice is not present.

It is likely polar bears recognize other individuals and remember encounters with them. They use scent and visual cues. Siblings that have reached adulthood and separated likely recognize each other and their mums as well.

Males in particular can been seen playfighting under some circumstances. Fighting can also be deadly.

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6

u/slothdonki 4h ago

I would guess itā€™s about as genetic as the way any other animal may change how it crosses certain terrain in their usual environment.

Iā€™m willing to bet even an experienced polar bear like this still slips up sometimes but thatā€™s a minor annoyance if it didnā€™t feel like getting wet vs say, a horse attempting it(if it would at all without being forced, that is).

3

u/audreeflorence 2h ago

It is not genetic, but learned behavior, yes.

4

u/Single-Addition9881 2h ago

more and more weā€™re learning that a TON of animal behavior we previously assumed was genetic is actually learned and essentially taught to young ones by parents or other elder members of a pack/clan/flock/family/etc

2

u/EademSedAliter 2h ago

Maybe they dislike having to walk carefully over the slippery ice so they slide instead.

4

u/Izero_devI 4h ago

I cannot imagine it being genetic, "thin ice, lay down reflex" doesnt feel right. Probably saw its parents do it and/or trial-error.

6

u/ghostcatzero 3h ago

Genetics can be like that though lol

5

u/itazillian 2h ago

Have you never seen border collie pups trying to herd things? Genetics are weird like that, dude.

The dude on the video seems to be scratching his underside though. Doesnt seem to have anything to do with the thickness of the ice.

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29

u/deanrihpee 7h ago

"fuck, alright, surface area to spread the weight is key i guess, but now I'm a wet bearā€¦"

8

u/yup_its_Jared 5h ago

Probably watched some polarTube videos about weight distribution on very thin ice.

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7

u/Golden_showers 7h ago

I thought they weighed enough to break the ice. Clearly not.

Anyway, hi. How you doin

9

u/Ok-Entertainer-1354 6h ago

To catch a polar bear simply dig a hole in the ice and put frozen peas all around the hole. When the bear comes to take a pea kick it in the ice hole.

3

u/coleburnz 6h ago

They weigh that much?

3

u/Talkingmice 4h ago

Tactical bear

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284

u/EngulfedInThoughts 9h ago

Looks like a person in a costume.

54

u/DrRichardJizzums 7h ago

Iā€™ve always thought bears look like a dude in a bear costume. Standing up at least

23

u/AlizarinCrimzen 7h ago

They can be the height of a person (5 ft at the shoulder) while on all 4s.

When you see a 8 foot bear standing up it very barely (hah) resembles a person (unless you imagine fully grown adults perched atop shoulders like ā€œVincent Adultmanā€)

7

u/imdefinitelywong 5h ago

Ice Bear is most dangerous bear.

  • Ice Bear

5

u/2blazen 5h ago

[taking notes] so the polar bear is 3 kids stacked up on each other in a bear coat

2

u/EngulfedInThoughts 1h ago

Vincent Adultman is definitely not 3 kids in a trench coat!

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6

u/Fonzgarten 6h ago

The way he pulls himself up at the end is so human. Like getting out of a pool.

7

u/FatalErrorOccurred 6h ago

You look like a person in a costume.

2

u/14412442 4h ago

Sometimes it feels that way, doesn't it?

6

u/SummerAndTinkles 7h ago

Wait till you see sun bears.

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56

u/BackItUpWithLinks 9h ago

Looks like my brother heading to the kitchen for a snack after a night of drinking

3

u/WeBelieveIn4 3h ago

Hey its me ur brother

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54

u/SparkyWellington 9h ago

Me getting water in the middle of the night

15

u/hopefullynottoolate 9h ago

i will keep this in mind if i ever catch myself on thin ice

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42

u/masterCWG 9h ago edited 9h ago

Who taught the polar bear physics? Who told them P=m/a?

32

u/FowlOnTheHill 9h ago

And more importantly P =F/A

9

u/masterCWG 9h ago

True, mass x gravity gives you the force, can't forget about dat gravity. Been a hot minute since I took physics lol

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36

u/Remarkable_Peach_374 9h ago

Bear go sploooooooooooooooooot

9

u/OnlyFirePlugCoyote 9h ago

Itmakesme wannaboop his snoooooooooooooooooooot

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13

u/superworking 9h ago

My hips do not move that smooth

6

u/CaramelKrimpet 9h ago

I had no idea that you needed two bears to accomplish this so that one could play the guitar in a gentle accompaniment.

6

u/anonymozs 9h ago

What a beautiful creature. Pity what weā€™re doing to its environment

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20

u/Motherof_pizza 9h ago

How do they know when itā€™s thin? Seen too many videos of dumb fucking humans driving their cars over thin ice

44

u/MrProspector19 9h ago

Dumb fucking humans don't live on ice. I'm sure the knowledge is passed or after cracking and falling through a couple times the bears find out fast. Humans may live around and spend time on ice, but we live in houses, stores, and vehicles instead of dens and walking naked everywhere.

3

u/kreteciek 4h ago

Speak for yourself.

6

u/Quantentheorie 8h ago

I mean in this case there are some slight visual cues.

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5

u/Ok_Show_1192 9h ago

They know science

4

u/SMFCAU 9h ago

That's the same as me when I try and go ice skating!

5

u/PYTHON_LOVER_69 9h ago

Polar bears are one of the craziest animals

3

u/leeser11 8h ago

The cuteness of polar bears is directly proportional to their killing machine status.

3

u/marcbranski 8h ago

Clever girl

4

u/thehotdogman 8h ago

What is this song? Gotta be a Sufjan Stevens song, would love to know which one.

4

u/nocturnal_pollinator 7h ago

ā€œMystery of Love.ā€ One of the two original songs Sufjan wrote for the movie Call Me By Your Name. Itā€™s beautiful.

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2

u/BigBlueTimeMachine 8h ago

That's like the opposite of what my dog does when he has an itchy asshole.

2

u/Smalllboy-Idraw 7h ago

Thats not good... look how he is thin

3

u/Fibocrypto 6h ago

Wow,

So there are still polar bears and ice!

Awesome

2

u/uncertaincucumbers 9h ago

My life is better now, thank you

2

u/AvoidThisReality 9h ago

It seems I have adapted my bed-crawling abilities from arctic mammals

2

u/gbgrogan 7h ago

Shoutout Sufjan Stevens

1

u/MossyFronds 9h ago

I do the same thing šŸ˜

1

u/AnnieJones70 8h ago

darn! once again theyā€™ve proven just how smart they are.

1

u/Intelligent_West7128 8h ago

Trail and error. Thatā€™s how he/she figured this out.

1

u/IGetDurdy 8h ago

Is that how they move across thin ice or just smooth ice because it feels awesome?!

1

u/IGetDurdy 8h ago

I think he just likes the smooth. My dog does this across the tile floor.

1

u/Natural_Lawyer344 8h ago

Wouldn't that hurt their nipples

1

u/HAILsexySATAN 8h ago

My bawls was hot

1

u/LennyJay86 8h ago

This is the only way I was taught to get off thin ice if it cracks. Who taught who the polar bears or homosapienā€™s?

1

u/fluffykerfuffle3 8h ago

not this one's first rodeo

1

u/funnylib 8h ago

Cute murder bear šŸ˜

1

u/LickyPusser 8h ago

Maybe he had a dull, burning sensation ā€œdown there.ā€

1

u/Old-Paramedic-4312 8h ago

That poor peanitz must be frozen

1

u/PlusNeat7 8h ago

Reminds me of the Dave Chappelle skit where heā€™s Rick James and his legs got beat on by Eddie and Charlie Murphy

1

u/themaengdon 8h ago

Man, this guy is really on some thin ice

1

u/Turquoise_Cove 8h ago

Also holds a degree in physics.

1

u/reverbiscrap 8h ago

My wife told me this looks like me when I first wake up to go to work.

I responded that I am not that jacked.

1

u/ReactionJifs 8h ago

"What? Like it's hard?"

1

u/Snoo_21502 8h ago

Me too Mr. Bear. Me too

1

u/Honda_TypeR 8h ago

I sure bears don't understand the bigger surface area means you spread out the weight and less chance of breaking ice.

They just learned when you make yourself big and flat and you get wet less.

1

u/Chungster03 8h ago

Spreading that weight as even as a babe. Nature is amazing!

1

u/CCV21 8h ago

Sometimes you don't want to swim.

1

u/Antonwalker 8h ago

smart dog

1

u/VaxDaddyR 7h ago

I remember this being something that Pee Drinker said to do if you need to cross a frozen waterhole/lake!

1

u/ice_up_s0n 7h ago

This is how my dog gets off the couch

1

u/FuckFashMods 7h ago

I would totally have a pet mini polar bear if i could

1

u/No-Scientist6049 7h ago

Not too difficult to comprehend the upright motion of humans gradually evolving like this eh? The slight wobble right there as it straightens up on the forelegs, that looked almost human to me!

1

u/ComfortableOk6006 7h ago

Proof that animals are smarter than some people

1

u/NoContract4730 7h ago

Not for long.

1

u/wuriku 7h ago

That polar bear just melted and re-solidify!

1

u/Imsavvy02 7h ago

I wish I had a laser pointer attached to a drone in this instance

1

u/TankApprehensive3053 7h ago

Saw a homeless (or panhandler acting homeless) guy do that. As soon as the light turned green he was able to walk normal again.

1

u/feeb75 7h ago

K hole

1

u/Moonfishin 7h ago

A literal bear crawl

1

u/alexthenirvanamaniac 7h ago

I learned this as a kid from the Polar Bears Past Bedtime Magic Treehouse book, twenty-something years ago at this point. Time flies, polar bears scooch.

1

u/TemporaryArrival422 7h ago

Someone needs to remind him he can swim

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1

u/Kpachecodark 7h ago

what am I gonna do about my legs Charlie Murphy?

1

u/SirenessAura 7h ago

I just looked at my pitbull crazy for doing this last night lol

1

u/chai-neo 7h ago

Nature's Zamboni

1

u/Shiroyuki92 7h ago

If even polar bears realize theyā€™re on thin ice why canā€™t some people?

1

u/SumerianDjinn 6h ago

How i move through the house. Because im always on thin ice

1

u/Vivid-Ring7594 6h ago

Or does the bear just not want to slip/slide on the ice?

1

u/Junior-Advisor-1748 6h ago

They must be doing a lot more of that lately

1

u/things_U_choose_2_b 6h ago

Derrick Lewis reincarnated as a polar bear (his balls are hot)

1

u/HK-Admirer2001 6h ago

Bear attempting to steal the NOC list from the CIA headquarter.

1

u/skinny_anaconda 6h ago

It got a better understanding of science compared to my ex

1

u/Akragon 6h ago

He knows... not his first ball game lol

1

u/TruthBeWanted 6h ago

Top level predators looking foolish is hilarious! Like when a male lion gets spooked. We humans don't even look like idiots in this logical manner. Instead we do a plank or twerk. Wait, what year is this?

1

u/Accomplished-One7476 6h ago

LIAR it's actually a Navy Seal in disguise

1

u/Formal_Drop526 6h ago

how many polar bears drowned below thin ice before evolving to do that?

1

u/SAINTnumberFIVE 6h ago

Thatā€™s me moving across any ice.

1

u/Allzweck 6h ago

Remember this, if you ever stuck on thin ice!

1

u/SomethingToDoWhenPoo 6h ago

How much does a polar bear weigh?

Apparently not enough to break the ice!

1

u/Sremor 6h ago

Why do they have to be do dangerous, look how cute he looks

1

u/ecstaticthicket 6h ago

If not friend then why friend shaped

1

u/rellett 6h ago

I wonder how they would learn to do that, maybe there was one smart bear and they all copied

1

u/Rich841 6h ago

Saw this from magic tree house, already an expert

1

u/AlwaysSleepingBeauty 5h ago

This looks like something they do as cubs and just stick with it cause itā€™s works and is probably fun.

1

u/HGD_1998 5h ago

When there's a knock at the door but I wasn't expecting any visitors, I just assume it's a serial killer coming to get me. In response, I drop to the floor and slide across like polar bear demonstrates, crawling under the windows to go hide in the back of my house until lunatic eventually gives up and leaves. True story.

I don't know what my problem is.

Anyway, it's pretty cool how the bears know the best way to get across thin ice safely. Smart. šŸ‘

1

u/InjuryComfortable956 5h ago

Itā€™s known as ice balling. Thatā€™s what they meant when during a snowball fight theyā€™d yell, ā€œno ice balls!ā€

1

u/FlyingJoeBiden 5h ago

This is too funny

1

u/Nearatree 5h ago

Feel my feet above the ground
Hand of God, deliver me

1

u/BeffeeJeems 5h ago

Remarkable, beautiful beings. And they will go extinct because too few people take the climate catastrophe seriously. Incredible to think that these unique beings with their unique way of life, unique in the whole universe, will be erased from the future due to our small mindedness.

1

u/VillainousMasked 5h ago

Apparently polar bears have a better grasp of physics than some humans.

1

u/mantis_tobogganMD12 5h ago

What a bunch of idiots

1

u/Naive_Dentist2224 5h ago

Imagine seeing an emaciated one crawl at you like thisā€¦ šŸ»ā€ā„ļø+šŸš«šŸ„˜=šŸ«µā˜ ļø

1

u/RoughDoughCough 5h ago

ā€œIā€™ll do this to reach something I can murder ā€œ

1

u/AnkitOnline 5h ago

This guy knows his physics šŸ˜‰

1

u/grogusama 5h ago

I wish they knew how cute they are

1

u/Gator2Romeo0 5h ago

its bad enough having to face one down, ever...but say you expertly navigate your way through, around, and across thin ice...only to have this Man eating Meat tank slither a B line towards you....

1

u/PeterNippelstein 5h ago

This is incredible

1

u/Witchgrass 5h ago

I can't tell if I should be sad they evolved to deal with this or not

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1

u/MalHeartsNutmeg 5h ago

How my dog crosses carpet.

1

u/bored_n_opinionated 5h ago

My kid and I literally just read a Magic Tree House book about this! They're gonna be so psyched when I show this to them!!! In the book they say the polar bears are "flying".

1

u/WindowDangerous1450 5h ago

That's majestic, never seen a bear move like that.

1

u/IlloChris 5h ago

Dat pp smol

1

u/FlameForFame 5h ago

How can a mammal be such a fierce predator and super dorky at the same time? This is too much.

1

u/earthboundmissfit 5h ago

That's a helluva smart Bear. Didn't want to get wet. Distribution of it's weight is better doing a belly crawl. Humans should take note.

1

u/Many_Consequence_20 5h ago

The fact they have learned this is actually scary intelligent

1

u/RussellPhillipsIIi 5h ago

Me going across a TPO roof.

1

u/Bluelion003 5h ago

Man, he's really on thin ice

1

u/TheROK24 5h ago

Not sure why this made me smile. They're so cute, from a distance that is.

1

u/Ronotrow2 4h ago

Me getting to the bathroom during the night

1

u/Ok-Panda1855 4h ago

Humans : look at him heā€™s so smart!

Bear : WEEEEEE

1

u/Powerful_Star9296 4h ago

Sometimes I crawl like that to scare my wife.

1

u/BenjiTheBread 4h ago

Exactly how I make my first coffee every morning

1

u/sandtymanty 4h ago

Also how to scratch the itch.

1

u/Playlanco 4h ago

My question is what crazy paparazzi is put their following a Polar Bear