funkysafari:

A polar bear’s paws are marvelously adapted to life in the Arctic. A polar bears giant paws can be 12” across and act as snowshoes to spread the polar bear’s weight out so they can walk on thin ice. The bottom of a bear’s paw is has lots of little bumps on it, like the surface of a basketball, which helps the bear get a good grip on the ice and keep them from slipping. Thickly callused pads both protect from the cold and prevent the bears from cutting themselves on sharp ice edges. A polar bear has five toes with claws on each foot. Long claws help the bear to travel on the ice, pull itself up onto the ice after a swim, or dig snow caves. Sharp claws are also deadly weapons when attacking walrus or caribou, snatching seals out of the water, or fighting off other bears. The forepaws are partially webbed to assist in swimming. Polar bears swim using their large front paws to propel themselves through the water and their back legs to steer. [photo]