Sea ice extent is at record, and near record, lows for this time of year in both polar regions, leaving the planet increasingly vulnerable to the cascading effects of global warming. This March, the Arctic sea ice winter maximum reached its lowest extent in the 47-year satellite record, while the Antarctic sea ice summer minimum […]
Tag: polar bears
Disturbing rise in wild killers on the loose sparks action across America… as four-year-old girl is savaged at her $2.3M home
A bloodthirsty coyote that attacked on a four-year-old girl in an idyllic suburban neighborhood has put a spotlight on the growing number of Americans targeted by wild predators. The most recent incident occurred in a ritzy area outside Seattle and saw the ferocious animal latch its jaws onto the young girl and begin to drag […]
Rare Footage of Moms, Cubs Emerging from Dens Sheds Light on Elusive Polar Bear Reproduction
Cub survival underpins species survival, and the denning period is the most vulnerable period of their life — less than 50% of cubs may make it to adulthood. As industry expands in the Arctic, the study highlights the importance of undisturbed denning areas to protect polar bear populations. “Polar bear mothers are having increasing difficulties […]
WWF helping facilitate trade in polar bear fur, investigation reveals
The wildlife charity WWF has been maintaining policies that work to support the trade in polar bear fur at the same time as using images of the bears to raise money, it can be revealed. Polar bears are severely affected by the loss of Arctic sea ice, which makes seeking prey harder and forces the […]
Polar Bears at Higher Risk of Contracting Some Pathogens
As the environment warms, polar bears are more likely to contract several pathogens than they were three decades ago. In a study published in PLOS ONE, researchers looked for antibodies for six pathogens in blood samples taken from polar bears in the Chukchi Sea from 1987-1994 and from 2008-2017. They found that five of the […]
Arctic Animals Face Growing Disease Threats as Climate Warms
Karyn Rode, a seasoned research wildlife biologist at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Alaska Science Center, emphasizes the polar bear‘s role as a bellwether for broader ecological shifts. “Pathogens’ transmission pathways are changing, including in the Arctic,” Rode notes, highlighting the rapid environmental transformations underway. The region is warming at a pace four times the global […]
Inspired by nature – 6 times biomimicry has transformed outdoor gear
Recently, I traveled to the Swiss Alps with the outdoor brand Columbia to test out their newest technology. Omni-Heat Arctic is an insulating technology that is inspired by how a polar bear‘s fur works to keep it warm in frigid arctic conditions. Though polar bears appear white, they actually have heat-absorbing black skin and two […]
Petition: Demand an Investigation into the Avoidable Killing of a Polar Bear in Canada
In a tragic incident at a remote radar site in Canada’s Arctic region, a worker was fatally attacked by two polar bears, leading to the killing of one of the bears. This event, while devastating, raises significant concerns about the measures in place to protect both employees and the endangered polar bears that inhabit these […]