Now we know why polar bears are so vulnerable to global warming

Polar bears are the sentinel species when it comes to global warming. They’re the symbol used for fundraising campaigns and initiatives to raise awareness of how human activities, specifically the burning of fossil fuels for energy, is endangering our majestic planet. 

We’ve known for a while that polar bears, which depend on sea ice cover for hunting and breeding, are already seeing their habitats shrink drastically as spring and summer sea ice becomes more scarce. 

This is forcing them to swim more, and walk greater distances to find food. But there have been many nagging questions about just how poorly bears might fare in a warming world as the ice melts and the Arctic Ocean gets closer to being seasonally ice-free.  Read more…

More about Science, Global Warming, Arctic Sea Ice, Climate Change, and Polar Bears