Polar Bear: Carolyn Inglis

Ice Ice Baby… Except for the Arctic: Carolyn Inglis

Polar Bears are not only a dangerous predator in the Arctic and Alaska, but a highly vulnerable species that can potentially become extinct within the lifetime of our children. Although they might look soft and cuddly, be warned these animals have a bite that tear through layers and layers of blubber for every meal. There are many reasons to why immediate action needs to be taken in the interest of conserving and restoring Polar Bears, the main reason is they’re just so cute!

Ecology of Polar Bears

Polar Bears generally stick to the shallow, ice-covered waters where currents and upwelling increasing biological productivity by bringing up the nutrient rich deep waters. Not only are these rich waters associated with the continental shelf, but the prey Polar Bears hunt thrives in these waters with the ice as a resting place. Generally Polar Bears are found in the Arctic and the inter-islands that surround the Arctic Basin, however that can also be found in Northern Alaska. For the Polar Bears who stay on year-long ice, they can hunt year-round, however for those who are on annual ice (ice that melts come summertime and warmer weather), when the ice thaws completely, the bears are forced to live on land and survive off fat stores during hibernation.

Polar Bears are a k-selected species with very small litter sizes, high maternal care, and a long adult life. They are among some of the slowest maturing and breeding mammals on earth with a pregnancy length from 195-26 days. The mothers spend most of their time in the snow dens they dig out for themselves and will generally give birth to two twin cubs, single cubs and triplets are less likely. When born the babies are almost hairless and blind until around 2 weeks old when they begin to develop and learn to use their sight. Baby Polar Bears are born to be under 1 pound, however gain 10-15 kilograms in around 5 months from feeding off their mother’s nutrient rich milk. As the carnivorous animal they are, it is very important for the mother to have a high fat storage by eating mainly seals and on occasion beluga whales or baby walruses as well as carcass from a variety of marine life. The rich milk of the mother is important to feed the babies to promote survival, as the mortality rate for Polar Bears within their first year of life is very high.

Geographic and Population Changes

Polar bear populations have been in decline for years, they were fist seen as potentially endangered around 2001. From 2001-2010 in Alaska and the Northwestern Territories Polar Bear populations have decreased 40%, from 1,500 to 900 in just 9 years. This rapid decline is mainly cause by the increase in earth’s climate leading to ice melting.

In attempt to regulate the polar bear populations and decline, the worldwide range where Polar Bears inhabited was broken into 19 subpopulations. These subpopulations are under the control of various countries. Because of these subpopulations Polar Bears have varying statuses within each region.

·       International: Vulnerable

·       Canada: Special Concern

·       Greenland / Denmark: Vulnerable

·       Norway: Vulnerable

·       Russia: Rare or recovering depending on population and region

·       United States: Threatened

Listing Date and Type of Listing

As of now Polar Bears are a vulnerable species. Because of the rapid decline of Arctic ice and steady increase of greenhouse gasses it is expected that Polar Bears will become critically endangered and that will lead to the extinction in the future. Polar Bears were officially listed as vulnerable on August 27, 2015 by the Fish and Wildlife Service and pulled up from least concern to vulnerable in 2013 by the IUCN Polar Bear Specialist Group.

Cause of Listing and Main Threats to Continues Existence

As the earth warms, the sea is crucial for the survival of Polar Bears melts. The steady and prominent increase in greenhouse gasses are causing this ice to melt and with it the hunting ground of Polar Bears. Polar Bears hitch rides on this ice in search for their next meal, they use it to capture their prey and migrate from ice shelves to ice shelves. With the increase of greenhouse gasses and water temperature also comes minimized prey, cold water animals are beginning to leave the now warmer cold waters of the arctic. This is also detrimental to the Polar Bears as they need lots of fatty and rich food to keep from starving.

Description of  Recovery Plan

There is a 6-step plan in the works for the Polar Bears according to the Fish and Wildlife Service. Step 1 would be to ensure protection and conservation efforts globally through Range States relationships. Step 2 consists of Managing human-bear conflicts, which doesn’t have a huge impact on the polar bear populations, but as the curious animals’ meander into oil drilling sites, the workers have little choice. Step 3 is to attempt to collaboratively manage subsistence harvesting especially among the native people. Those people have been living among the bears for decades and have value affiliated with the bear for cultural traditions. They hunt Polar Bears for their meat and fur. The polar bear meat is considered sacred and the for is used for boots and coats for the natives. Although this is happening, it is heavily regulated and does not have a large impact on the overall population of the bears. Step 4 is to protect the denning habitat, i.e. the snow and ice. These shelters are critical for the survival of the polar bear babies and for their hibernation period. Step 5 is to minimize the risk of contamination from oil or any other kind of toxic spills as ice will absorb it and become like poison for the bears. Step 6 is to continue to monitor and research these animals to modernize the conservation techniques used.

What can you do?

Although it seems minimal, reducing your personal carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions will help. Walk to school, ride a bike to work, carpool. No matter how small these tasks seem, anything will help this bear. Another thing that could be done is to help educate the natives on the severity of this endangerment.

 

Other Resources

To contribute to the cause of conserving the amazing animals that are Polar Bears, there are ways to adopt them and donate that money to the cause! With a variety of packages available, it is made affordable to most. Some fun facts about Polar Bears is that their skin is actually black and their fur is transparent with a hollow core. It appears white because of the reflections from the snow and allows them to blend into their surroundings more. Polar Bears are an incredibly tough species enduring the harshest climate on earth, with their thick layer of blubber to keep them warm, they are prepared for anything (other than climate change).

Works Cited

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Palmer, Jane. “Earth - Will Polar Bears Become Extinct?” BBC, BBC, 5 Nov. 2014, www.bbc.com/earth/story/20141107-will-polar-bears-become-extinct.

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Wildlife Service, Fish. “Polar Bear (Ursus Maritimus).” Https://Ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/Profile/SpeciesProfile?Spcode=A0IJ, 2015, ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/profile/speciesProfile?spcode=A0IJ.

Wildlilife Fund, World. “Polar Bear.” WWF, World Wildlife Fund, 7 Mar. 2018, www.worldwildlife.org/species/polar-bear.

Meador, Ron. “Climate's Impact on Sea Ice Is Clear, but Consequences for Polar Bears Are Not.” Https://Www.minnpost.com/Earth-Journal/2015/05/Climates-Impact-Sea-Ice-Clear-Consequences-Polar-Bears-Are-Not, 13 May 2015, www.minnpost.com/earth-journal/2015/05/climates-impact-sea-ice-clear-consequences-polar-bears-are-not.

“Adopt a Polar Bear.” WWF, World Wildlife Fund, gifts.worldwildlife.org/gift-center/gifts/Species-Adoptions/Polar-Bear.aspx?sc=AWY1800OQ18686A01324RX&gclid=Cj0KCQiAuP7UBRDiARIsAFpxiRJ2hHCPQW978KgVCzGcTZt83sBDl7ia126zLAtkk9JdbJkijf_zEMsaAt48EALw_wcB.

G, Victorija. “Cute Polar Bear Pictures.” Https://Www.boredpanda.com/Cute-Baby-Polar-Bear-Day-Photography/, 2014, www.boredpanda.com/cute-baby-polar-bear-day-photography/.

“Nat Geo Facts For Kids.” Https://Www.natgeokids.com/Uk/Discover/Animals/General-Animals/Polar-Bear-Facts/#!/Register, 21 Aug. 2012, www.natgeokids.com/uk/discover/animals/general-animals/polar-bear-facts/#!/register.

Fabricius, Karl. “How the Gulf Oil Spill COuld Save Polar Bears.” Http://Scribol.com/Environment/Oil-and-Gas/How-the-Gulf-Oil-Spill-Could-Save-the-Polar-Bear/, 13 May 2010, scribol.com/environment/oil-and-gas/how-the-gulf-oil-spill-could-save-the-polar-bear/.

Smith, Anna. “C2NN - Care2's Member-Powered News Network.” Stop Shell from Drilling the Arctic Ocean PETITION - Care2 News Network, 2009, www.care2.com/news/member/862450128/3869695.

Stevens, Matt. “Video of Starving Polar Bear 'Rips Your Heart Out of Your Chest'.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 11 Dec. 2017, www.nytimes.com/2017/12/11/world/canada/starving-polar-bear.html.

Meiden, Laura. “Climate Change to Cause Polar Bear Population Declines.” Shark Research & Conservation Program (SRC) | University of Miami, 16 Dec. 2015, sharkresearch.rsmas.miami.edu/conservation/climate-change-to-cause-polar-bear-population-declines.

Corbis, Paul. “As Sea Ice Shrinks, Can Polar Bears Survive on Land?” National Geographic, National Geographic Society, 2 May 2016, news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/07/140717-polar-bears-goose-eggs-global-warming-arctic-environment/.