How to Help Polar Bears: Status, Sea Ice Loss, and What You Can Do

Polar bears are listed as threatened under the US Endangered Species Act and as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The US Fish and Wildlife Service ties the US listing to the “loss of sea ice.” Asked whether it is too late to save them, Polar Bears International, a nonprofit, answers “Definitely not!”

The US Fish and Wildlife Service says “Largely dependent on sea ice, their native range lies throughout the circumpolar Arctic, primarily above the Arctic Circle.” Polar Bears International puts the cause of the ice loss this way: “Global climate warming, caused by carbon emissions from human activities, is melting the sea ice polar bears depend on.”

Are Polar Bears Endangered?

Polar bears are listed under several different classifications. Polar Bears International says they are “listed under a variety of classifications depending on international, national, and regional regulations.”

In the United States, the polar bear is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The Fish and Wildlife Service says its 2008 listing is “based on the best available science, which shows that loss of sea ice threatens and will likely continue to threaten polar bear habitat.” Under the Act, a threatened species is one “at risk of becoming” endangered “within the foreseeable future,” while an endangered species is one “currently in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.”

The Marine Mammal Protection Act also covers polar bears. The Fish and Wildlife Service says the Act “prohibits the take, which is defined as harass, hunt, capture, or kill, of all marine mammals, with an exception in place for harvest by Alaska Native peoples.”

Internationally, the IUCN lists the polar bear as Vulnerable. The IUCN Polar Bear Specialist Group says its members completed a Red List assessment in 2015 that categorized the polar bear as Vulnerable, which it describes as a category for “a species that faces a high risk of extinction in the wild.”

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How Many Polar Bears Are Left?

The Fish and Wildlife Service says “The global polar bear population is estimated to be 26,000 individuals as of 2023.” Polar Bears International gives the same figure and credits it to the IUCN Polar Bear Specialist Group’s 2021 Status Report.

The total hides differences between places. WWF says “Although most of the world’s 20 populations have returned to healthy numbers, there are differences among them. Some are stable, some seem to be increasing, and some are decreasing due to various pressures.”

Looking ahead, Polar Bears International says scientists predict that if the Arctic continues to warm, “two-thirds of the world’s polar bears could disappear within this century.” WWF says “Global polar bear numbers are projected to decline by 30% by 2050.”

Polar bears have few cubs and raise them slowly. The Fish and Wildlife Service describes the polar bear as “a K-selected or slow species, characterized by late sexual maturity, small litter sizes and extended parental investment in raising young.” Litter size “typically ranges between one to three cubs, with litters of two cubs being most common,” and cubs “typically remain with their mother until they are 2 years old.” The service puts “the minimum reproductive interval for adult females with a successful litter” at 3 years.

Why Sea Ice Matters to Polar Bears

Polar Bears International says “Polar bears rely on sea ice to efficiently catch their main prey, ice seals.” The Fish and Wildlife Service says polar bears “prey heavily on ringed seals (Phoca hispida) and, to a lesser extent, bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus).” WWF adds that polar bears “rely heavily on sea ice for traveling, hunting, resting, mating and, in some areas, maternal dens.”

Polar Bears International reports that “the rate of sea ice decline for September sea ice is 82,300 square kilometers (32,000 square miles) per year, or 12.8 percent per decade compared to the 1981 to 2010 average.”

WWF describes what that means on the ground: “As their sea ice habitat recedes earlier in the spring and forms later in the fall, polar bears are increasingly spending longer periods on land, where they are often attracted to areas where humans live.”

In its FAQ, Polar Bears International answers whether polar bears can switch to land-based foods, since climate change is affecting ringed seals, their main food source: “We don’t have evidence that such foods could provide enough nutrients to sustain any of the existing populations of polar bears.”

Other Threats to Polar Bears

Polar Bears International lists other challenges to the bears besides climate warming: increased commercial activity, conflicts with people, pollution, disease, inadequate protection of denning and seasonal resting habitat, and the potential for over-harvest in smaller or declining populations.

On conflicts with people, WWF says polar bears’ “powerful sense of smell attracts them to human communities: garbage, stored food, dog teams, and animal carcasses bring them into greater conflict with Arctic people.”

On oil, WWF says “Offshore, in the polar bears’ sea ice environment, increasing ship traffic by barges, oil tankers, and cargo ships elevates the risk of oil spills and human disturbance to polar bears.”

Conservation Efforts for Polar Bears

Several groups work on polar bears at once. In 1973, WWF says, “Canada, the United States, Denmark, Norway, and the former USSR signed the International Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears and their Habitat, strictly regulating commercial hunting.”

The Fish and Wildlife Service says the primary objective of its Alaska polar bear program “is to ensure that polar bear populations in Alaska remain a healthy, functioning component of the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort seas ecosystems.”

WWF describes its polar bear work this way: it works “to protect polar bear habitat from the impacts of climate change and industry threats,” supports “local strategies for living with polar bears,” studies and tracks polar bears, and supports “scientifically based laws and policies that help polar bears.”

Polar Bears International runs the Polar Bear Tracker, which “follows the movements of satellite-collared polar bears in Hudson Bay, Canada.” The tracking is “part of a long-term research project conducted by our partners at the University of Alberta and Environment and Climate Change Canada.”

10 Ways to Help Polar Bears

The Climate Actions page for adults at Polar Bears International is headed “Taking climate action is easier than you might think!” It lists ten actions.

1. Vote for Polar Bears. The page says “Voting for candidates that support climate action is the single biggest way you can help protect polar bears and the planet.”
2. Polar Bear Advocacy. “Whether it’s calling and writing your federal representatives or attending local events like city council meetings, you have the power to advocate for polar bears wherever you live.”
3. Talk About Climate. The page says that “talking about climate action with as many people as possible is one of the most powerful ways to take action for polar bears and the planet.”
4. A Climate-Friendly Workplace. “Encourage your company to create incentives for employees to take public transportation, carpool, or bike to work instead of driving.”
5. Climate Action at School. “Encourage your school to adopt a composting program.”
6. Climate-Smart Finances. “Supporting companies that advance renewable energy and other climate-positive industries helps ensure our economy grows in a sustainable way.”
7. Create Your Own Content. “Submit a letter to your local or regional newspaper.”
8. Act in Your Neighbourhood. The page says you can “advocate for expanded public transportation to connect your community to neighbourhood resources.”
9. Make Your Home Climate-Friendly. “If you’re able to, try to run your home at least partially off of renewable energy.” The same list says “Switch from a gas stove or heater to an electric stove or heater.” For food, it says “Limit your meat consumption,” adding “most importantly beef.”
10. Become a Mentor. “Talk with young people about what it means to contribute to society, the importance of voting, and solutions that support a healthy climate and a future with polar bears.”

Polar Bears International also marks International Polar Bear Day on February 27, Arctic Sea Ice Day on July 15, and Polar Bear Week in the first week of November. Its Act Now page lists donating and starting a fundraiser as other ways to take part.

FAQs

Why do we need to save the polar bears?

WWF says “Polar bears are at the top of the food web and have an important role in the overall health of the marine environment.” It also describes the species as “serving as an important indicator species.”

Is it too late to save the polar bears?

Polar Bears International answers “Definitely not!” It also says “Research also shows that hope remains if action is taken to greatly reduce carbon emissions soon.”

Can Arctic sea ice recover?

Polar Bears International says “Studies show there is no tipping point. The ice will rebound if we work together now to shift away from fossil fuels, replacing them with renewable energy sources like solar and wind.”

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Sources

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus)." fws.gov
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Marine Mammals Management Office. "Polar Bear Program." fws.gov
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "Secretary Kempthorne Announces Decision to Protect Polar Bears under Endangered Species Act," May 14, 2008. fws.gov
• IUCN Polar Bear Specialist Group. "IUCN Redlist." iucn-pbsg.org
• Polar Bears International. "Status and Populations." polarbearsinternational.org
• Polar Bears International. "Frequently Asked Questions." polarbearsinternational.org
• Polar Bears International. "Climate Actions (18+)." polarbearsinternational.org
• Polar Bears International. "Act Now." polarbearsinternational.org
• WWF. "Polar Bear." worldwildlife.org