Alaskan Polar Bear

a Polar Bear mom and her new born cubs

Alaskan Polar Bear Recovery Plan

by Maya Mashiach

Polar Bear Conservation Management Plan

Listing Status: Threatened

Date: December 20, 2016

Location: Alaska

Plan Status: Final

Ecology:

Polar bears are typically found around the north in the polar region. They are usually found near pack ice, a platform for hunting and resting areas. Regardless of the time of year, they travel to follow the pack ice as this is crucial to their optimal habitat. Polar bears have large feet for them swim and walk along the ice. Males weigh around 600-1200 pounds and females weigh around 400-700 pounds. Females typically give birth to twin cubs in her den where they stay until they grow big enough. Polar bear are generally solitary, with the exception of females with their cubs. 

a map of the regions of the 19 polar bear subpopulations

Geographic and Population Changes:

There are 19 populations of polar bears. Two of them are in Alaska being the Beaufort Sea population and the Chukchi Sea population. The rest are found in other countries like Canada, Denmark, Norway, and Russia. The recovery plan only covers those in the US, that being Alaska. There are currently around 26,000 polar bears in the polar region and around 1000 bears found in the Alaskan region. 

Causes of Listing and Threats to Existence:

The population of polar bears have been declining since early 1970. Initially, the decline was due to over harvest and sport hunting being extremely popular then. However, now the decline has shifted to be attributed to the impending climate change. Thinner ice and longer free ice periods are threatening the amount of land they have to utilize and the amount of hunting time they have. In addition, oil exploration is increasing in Alaska which is threatening their food opportunities and toxicity levels. 

a polar bear lost in the endless human takeover

Recovery Plan:

The recovery plan focuses on the idea that polar bear decline is due to arctic warming and climate change. It mentions that it is out of their control to improve the climate, but there are opportunities to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in an ecological manner. The following actions are outlined in their plan:

• limits global atmospheric levels of emissions to appropriate polar bear levels 
• support the international conservation efforts through relationships
• manage conflicts between humans and polar bears
• manage subsistence harvest
• protect the den habitat for females and her cubs
• minimize oil spill risks for contamination
• continue monitoring and research

The sea-ice extent 1953-2015 in order to analyze
the suitable period of conditions for polar bears.

The plan's main goal is to ensure that polar bears remain wild on the planet and remain as a significant entity of the Arctic ecosystem as tie progresses. Stakeholders and Alaska Natives are crucial in maintaining the actions and goals in this plan seeing as they have a direct influence on the polar bears in the Alaskan region. Human impact is crucial to the plan. They lay out the ideas that maintaining human interactions and minimizing restrictions on human activities is important in order to keep a positive relationship. 

Due to the uncertainty of the effects that these climatic changes have on polar bears, the Plan is laid out to be dynamic rather than static. As data is accumulated over time, the Plan needs to change to resolve the management that is being applied to this conservation. There will be three groups to maintain and change the Plan including a Human-Polar Bear conflicts working group, a communications working group, and a science working group. 

What Can You Do?!:

Human influence is the biggest contributor to the conservation of polar bears. In order to preserve these species, anyone can partake in green methods as simple as driving less, eating local foods, and conserving energy at home. Anything and everything can contribute to climate change and any small thing can have a long term impact on the emissions and warming on earth. Polar bears are in need of our help, meaning they need everyone to take part in this global impact. 

Fun Facts:

Polar Bears have black skin under their white fur!

Polar Bears can clean themselves by rolling in the snow!

Unlike other bears, Polar Bears do not hibernate!

Polar Bears can swim 60 miles without rest for food!

Polar Bears have built-in socks with stiff fur on the sole of their feet!

Other Resources:

Bromaghin, Jeffrey F. “Polar Bear Population Dynamics in the Southern Beaufort Sea during a Period of Sea Ice Decline.” Species Profile for Polar Bear (Ursus Maritimus), Wiley Online Library, ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/profile/speciesProfile?sId=4958#conservationPlans.

dfg.webmaster@alaska.gov. “Polar Bear (Ursus Maritimus) Species Profile.” Polar Bear Species Profile, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=polarbear.main.

“Polar Bear Population Decline a Wake Up Call for Climate Change Action.” WWF, World Wildlife Fund, www.worldwildlife.org/stories/polar-bear-population-decline-a-wake-up-call-for-climate-change-action.