Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How do polar bears move through water differently from other four-legged mammals?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
bear
Grizzly bear in Jasper National Park, western Alberta, Canada.
Polar bears are unique among four-legged mammals because they rely exclusively on their front limbs for propulsion while swimming.12
In contrast, most other aquatic mammals—such as otters, rodents, and various pinnipeds—typically use their hind legs and often their tails to navigate through the water. While some other animals, such as fur seals, also utilize their forelimbs for swimming, the polar bear is the only four-legged mammal to employ this specific method of locomotion.31