All articles tagged with #polar bears
A moody shot by Christopher Paetkau shows a polar bear mother with three cubs napping on mud along Canada’s Hudson Bay coast in the summer heat. The image is shortlisted for Wildlife Photographer of the Year Nuveen People’s Choice Award 2026 and highlights how shrinking sea ice from climate change is forcing polar bears to spend more time on land in search of food.
Researchers in Svalbard report a polar bear population thriving amid shrinking sea ice, with bears fat and able to raise cubs as they adapt by spending more time on land and preying on new species; scientists caution this success may be temporary and call for more Arctic-wide research.
A Scientific Reports study of hundreds of Svalbard polar bears finds their body condition improved from 2000 to 2019 even as sea ice declined, suggesting dietary adaptation (more ringed seals and land prey like reindeer, plus scavenging) and regional variability among roughly 20 populations; while other regions like Western Hudson Bay show declines, climate change remains a major threat, and polar bears are not doomed everywhere.
Two motorized paragliders narrowly avoided landing in a polar bear enclosure at Peak Wildlife Park in Staffordshire, with keepers rushing to prevent a potentially dangerous situation as the gliders diverted just inches from the bears' border, highlighting the risks of unauthorized aerial approaches near wildlife enclosures.
Researchers in northern Canada observed a rare case of a mother polar bear adopting a cub that was not biologically her own, an event only the 13th documented in nearly five decades of study, highlighting the bears' adaptability and the challenges they face due to climate change.
A study reveals that polar bears in southern Greenland are using 'jumping genes' to rapidly modify their DNA as a survival response to melting sea ice caused by climate change, though the threat to their survival remains significant.
A 34-year-old man, Christopher Best, was killed by two polar bears on a remote Canadian island after sharing a photo of a bear on Instagram and dismissing safety concerns, highlighting the dangers of wildlife encounters and the importance of safety measures.
A journalist recounts her awe-inspiring experience aboard a Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker in the Arctic, observing polar bears and pristine ice, and reflects on the environmental changes threatening this fragile region.
Photos and drone footage reveal polar bears inhabiting an abandoned Soviet-era research station on Kolyuchin Island off Russia's Far East, highlighting how climate change is altering bear behavior and habitats, with bears increasingly approaching human settlements due to melting sea ice and environmental changes.
Polar bears have taken over an abandoned Soviet-era research station on Kolyuchin Island in Russia's Arctic, with footage showing them roaming and using the buildings as shelter, highlighting the impact of climate change on Arctic wildlife and human structures.
Polar bears are not actually white; their clear, hollow fur scatters light to appear white, providing camouflage and insulation in the Arctic. Their fur consists of two layers that help trap heat and repel water, while their black skin's purpose remains a mystery. These adaptations are crucial for surviving extreme cold temperatures.
A Canadian man is recovering from severe injuries after leaping onto a polar bear to protect his wife in Fort Severn First Nation. The bear, which attacked the couple in their driveway, was later shot by a neighbor. Experts warn that changing environmental conditions may increase human-polar bear encounters, as bears become more unpredictable when stranded on land without sufficient sea ice for hunting. This incident highlights the growing risks for communities near polar bear habitats as climate change affects sea ice formation.
Researchers from National Museums Scotland and universities in Aberdeen and Edinburgh have found evidence suggesting that polar bears may have lived in Scotland during the last ice age. By re-evaluating fossils from the Bone Caves in Assynt, they discovered that some bear remains, previously thought to be brown bears, had diets consisting almost entirely of seafood, similar to modern polar bears. This finding raises questions about the possible overlap of polar and brown bear habitats in ancient times. DNA analysis is underway to confirm the species of these bears.
A study tracking 20 polar bears in Manitoba, Canada, reveals the grim impact of melting sea ice on the bears' ability to access their main food source, leading to starvation and weight loss. As the bears are forced to seek alternate food sources on land due to longer periods of scant ice caused by human-induced global warming, they are burning as much energy as they are gaining from these terrestrial foods. This not only threatens the bears' survival but also increases the risk of human-bear interactions as the bears venture into local towns in search of food.
Scientists attached cameras to polar bears in Hudson Bay, Canada, and were shocked to find that the bears are struggling to find food due to the melting of sea ice caused by climate change. The footage revealed the bears resorting to feeding on bird carcasses, berries, and marine animals, as well as engaging in play-fighting and longer swims, all signs of desperation. Despite these efforts, the bears are losing weight, with one bear losing nearly 80 pounds. This study highlights the dire situation for polar bears as global warming continues to threaten their survival.