International Polar Bear Day

February 27, 2009 is International Polar Bear Day. Polar bears have small bumps on their paws, papillae, which help keep them from slipping on ice. Their claws help them catch prey such as seals and their nose is able to detect prey miles away.

Polar bears may not yet be an endangered species although listed on the threatened list under the federal Endangered Species Act in May 2008. Dangers to polar bears include hunting, pollution, poaching and industry. The largest threat to their survival is global warming, climate change. The warmer weather causes the loss of sea ice which reduces their habitat where they hunt, breed and den. Loss of sea ice results in a shortage of food which in turn increases the morality rate of cubs. In Alaska, the number of cubs that reach a first birthday is down 65% from 15 years ago.