Polar Bear Habitat
"The main concern we have for polar bears is habitat loss, it is the biggest factor in polar bear extinction" (Derocher). Polar bears spend most of their time on arctic sea ice. Many adaptations make polar bears uniquely suited to life in icy habitats. The most important habitats are the edges of pack ice where currents and wind interact forming a continuous melting and refreezing cycle. These are the areas where polar bears can find the greatest number of seals. Polar bears rely on sea ice as the surface to travel, mate, feed and in some areas to den and care for their young. Global warming is causing sea ice platforms to move apart and swimming conditions to be more dangerous. Unless steps are taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, global warming will cause crucial habitat to melt, which in return will pose a serious threat to polar bears. Habitat specialists or animals with special behaviors like polar bears will not adapt in time. The changes (melting ice) are occurring too fast for them to adapt in time. With the loss of sea ice polar bears find it more difficult to live, and some populations have already begun to decline.