Wild Polar Bear Maternal Den Welfare

Polar bear maternal dens provide critical thermal protection for newborn cubs, and disturbance from industrial activity near dens has serious welfare implications.

Key Facts

Pregnant polar bears enter dens in October-November and give birth to 1-2 cubs in December-January
Cubs are born at 600g and are entirely dependent on the den environment for the first 3-4 months
Den disturbance from industrial noise or activity can cause premature den abandonment
Oil exploration and drilling operations have increasingly encroached on denning habitat
Satellite tagging of pregnant females helps identify and protect critical denning areas

Welfare Considerations

Premature den abandonment exposes tiny, underdeveloped cubs to temperatures as low as -40 degrees Celsius, causing rapid hypothermia and death. Cubs abandoned at the wrong time of year have no survival prospects. The welfare of individual cubs is entirely dependent on den security. Industrial activity near known denning areas must incorporate exclusion zones during the denning period. The welfare imperative to protect denning habitat aligns with the conservation imperative to protect the population.

What You Can Do

Support regulations requiring exclusion zones around polar bear denning habitat
Donate to organisations conducting denning habitat research using satellite tracking
Advocate for industrial development restrictions in critical Arctic denning areas
Support climate action to maintain the coastal areas used for polar bear denning
Raise awareness about the vulnerability of newborn polar bear cubs to den disturbance