Early springs impact ice-dependent bears

In large part due to climatic warming, sea ice in the polar basin has been declining at a rate of about 9% per decade (an area roughly about the size of Alaska) for the last few decades,” says Dr. Ian Stirling, Senior Research Scientist with the Canadian Wildlife Service.

In Western Hudson Bay, the breakup is now about 3 weeks earlier on average than it was only 30 years ago. As a result, in this region the bears are able to feed less at the most important time of year (late spring – early summer) when freshly weaned seal pups are most abundant.