Researchers from the University of Toronto have directly linked the population decline in polar bears living in Canada’s Western Hudson Bay to climate change. Between 1979 and 2021, the polar bear population in this region has declined by nearly 50%.
The monitoring data over this period shows that the average size of polar bears has declined, the size of cub litters has dropped, and cub survival rates are reduced.
The primary factor is the declining amount and duration of sea ice. When there is less ice, bears have less feeding time and less energy overall. The loss of sea ice means that bears spend less time hunting seals and more time fasting on land. The lack of food leads to reduced reproduction, cub survival, and, ultimately, population decline.
The average body mass of adult females has dropped by 86 pounds and of cubs by 47 pounds. With shorter hunting periods and less food, mothers produce less milk. Not only have cub litter sizes dropped over the monitoring period, but mothers are keeping their cubs longer because they are not strong enough to live on their own. The bottom line is that the survival of cubs directly impacts the survival of the population.
Western Hudson Bay is considered to be a bellwether for polar bear populations globally. It is one of the southernmost populations of polar bears and it has been monitored for a long time. With the Arctic warming at a rate four times faster than the global average, polar bear populations in other Arctic regions are likely to be experiencing similar declines.
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Polar bear population decline the direct result of extended ‘energy deficit’ due to lack of food
Photo, posted October 23, 2015, courtesy of Anita Ritenour via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio
