Wild Polar Bear Welfare and Climate Change

How sea ice loss driven by climate change is causing nutritional stress and welfare decline in polar bear populations.

Key Facts

Polar bears are the most ice-dependent of all bear species — they rely on sea ice to hunt ringed seals
Sea ice extent in the Arctic has declined approximately 13% per decade since 1979
Longer ice-free seasons force polar bears into extended fasting periods causing body condition decline
Female polar bears with inadequate fat reserves have lower cub survival rates and smaller litters
Some polar bear subpopulations are already showing population-level decline linked to ice loss

Welfare Considerations

Polar bear welfare is directly and measurably connected to sea ice availability. As climate change shrinks and shortens the sea ice season, polar bears experience extended fasting periods that push beyond their natural fasting physiology. Body condition has declined measurably in populations with the greatest ice loss. Female bears in poor condition have fewer and smaller cubs with reduced survival. The welfare harm is both chronic — ongoing nutritional stress over extended ice-free seasons — and acute — bears forced to swim longer distances to find ice or resort to terrestrial food sources that provide inadequate nutrition.

What You Can Do

Take meaningful personal and political action on climate change as the primary polar bear welfare intervention
Support Polar Bears International and other organizations monitoring population welfare and advocating for climate action
Avoid tourism operations that stress polar bears through close vehicle or helicopter approaches
Advocate for Arctic Ocean protection policies that limit industrial activity in critical polar bear habitat