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Nursing vocalization of a polar bear cub

Nursing vocalization of a polar bear cub

We recorded the nursing vocalization of a wild polar bear (Ursus maritimus) cub in Svalbard, Norway and describe it with the term humming. From a 3-minute recording of the vocalization, we found the sounds composed of between 30-55 pulses with a mean of 0.05 (SE = 0.002) seconds in duration, a frequency with the greatest energy at 0.28 kHz (SE = 0.06), and a mean maximum frequency of 0.85 kHz (SE = 0.15). The function of the pulsed vocalization is unknown but may relate to comfort and contentment or to stimulate milk release by the mother.

  • Author(s) Andrew E. Derocher and Sofie M. Van Parijs and Øystein Wiig
  • Volume 21
  • Issue 2
  • Pages 189-191
  • Publication Date 1 November 2010
  • DOI 10.2192/09sc025.1
  • File Size 189.78 KB
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