* Sea ice as hunting ground: Polar bears rely heavily on the sea ice for hunting seals, their primary food source. They wait patiently at breathing holes in the ice or ambush seals on land.
* Sea ice as a platform: The ice provides a platform for the bears to travel long distances, access hunting grounds, and establish dens in snowdrifts.
* Denning and raising young: Female polar bears dig dens in snowdrifts on land or sea ice, where they give birth and raise their cubs for the first few months of their lives.
While they do spend some time on land, their survival is intimately tied to the existence and condition of the sea ice. As climate change impacts sea ice coverage and timing, polar bear populations face serious threats.
Where can you find them?
Polar bears inhabit the Arctic Circle region, encompassing countries like:
* Canada: Nunavut, Northwest Territories, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
* Russia: The Arctic region.
* Greenland: Across the island.
* Norway: Svalbard Archipelago.
* United States: Alaska.