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A Life Tied to Sea Ice
 
Have you been following the wild polar bears on our
Bear Tracker MapThe map pinpoints the movements of satellite-collared bears on Hudson Bay and the Beaufort Sea and helps scientists understand how the bears are responding to changing sea ice conditions.
Crossing Ice
Polar bear number X37027, for instance, is crisscrossing the sea ice of Hudson Bay with her cub. So far the pair has traveled over 700 miles since the mother was collared last September. Along with the other polar bears in this population, the family will continue to hunt seals and build up their fat reserves until the summer melt forces them ashore.
 
Interested in sponsoring one of these bears? Contact us at admin@pbears.org. 
Turn It Off on Earth Day!

 

Idle Free
Every year, hundreds of thousands of pounds of heat-trapping CO2 are released into the atmosphere by idling vehicles. You can do
your part to make no idling the norm by taking our No Idling Challenge on Earth Day, April 22. It's the third event in our Save Our Sea Ice (SOS!) campaign, a series of Earth Awareness Celebrations that focus on creating energy-saving habits--simple habits that can help polar bears. 

 

Taking part is easy: Just turn off your vehicle's engine for waits longer than 10 seconds when dropping off or picking up passengers at an Earth Day event. And then make every day an Earth Day by making a conscious effort not to idle and motivating others to do the same. Ready to do more? Set up a No Idle Zone at your school or workplace, green your drivingand keep your vehicle well maintained. 
Guest Post: Den Sniffing Dogs
Karelian Bear Dog
By BJ Kirschhoffer
 
Wes Larson and I just had the most exciting opportunity!
 
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is up in our neighborhood looking for polar bear dens with dogs. I've always said the North Slope needs a few therapy dogs roaming around the camps for people to pet. |more 
Arctic Species of the Month:
Killer Whales
Orca
 
As the winter ice returns, pods of orcas (Orcinus orca) head south. But marine biologists say a warming climate has caused more killer whales to move north in recent years--and some of them make errors in judgment and stay too long, confused by delayed freeze-ups in a warming Arctic.

 

Such was the case with a pod trapped in the Hudson Bay ice this January, confined to a small breathing area becoming smaller every day. The pod's plight brought calls for rescue attempts until shifting winds set them free.

 

Scientists say that the presence of killer whales in the Arctic in January is yet another indicator of a
troubled ecosystem. They are concerned that as the polar bear's sea ice platform melts away, killer whales could move in as the top predator, reshaping an Arctic that is also seeing the northward movement of harp and harbor seals.

 

Cool fact: This video footage
of the trapped whales provides fascinating insights into their social behavior. Rather than one orca dominating the breathing hole, all whales in the pod took turns, a strategy designed to save them all.
In This Issue
 
A Life Tied to Sea Ice
Turn It Off!
Guest Post
Featured Article
Just for Mom
Mother's Day Adoption Photo

Sweet times two--a perfect description of our special Mother's Day adoption

 

Your symbolic adoption is a thoughtful gift that will help real polar bears in the wild.


Or visit our Mother's Day
Corner for ideas on how to spoil Mom on her special day.
Featured Sponsor
 
Bering Time 2013
is proving time and time
again that they're one our biggest Champions!

For the third yearthe watch company is donating a portion of their proceeds
to support polar bear conservation. Look out for the launch of their new campaign early this summer.
Volunteer Spotlight
 Biodiversity Institute & Department of
Zoology and Physiology,
University of Wyoming
UW Logo  
This month our shout-out goes to the University of Wyoming's Biodiversity Institute and Department of Zoology and Physiologypartners in our most recent spring Tundra Connections broadcasts. From the expertise of the panelists to the Gold LEED-certified Berry Biodiversity Conservation Center, we couldn't have asked for a better experience. For that we give them a big paws up!
Video of the Month

 

 Have you ever wondered

what it's like to study

polar bears out on the arctic sea ice, where temperatures can plunge to 50 below? Our Polar Bear Tracker Webcast gives you the chance to meet scientists and learn how satellite collars help them in their work.

Teaching Tool
M&C with Collar
Wild polar bears. Satellite collars. Vast expanses of sea ice. The perfect complement to our Polar Bear Tracker Webcast, our Bear Tracker PowerPoint is designed for middle school students and up.

 

 
 
Give A Gift Icon
 
Give as a GIFT or in HONOR or MEMORY of someone special. Or, add us to your monthly budget with an
ENDURING PLEDGE. All donations are tax-deductible
and help us attain our goal of conserving polar bears.
 
 
You can also join us on your favorite community sites
and share PBI with your friends and family.
 
Like us on Facebook  Follow us on Twitter  View our videos on YouTube  View our photos on flickr  Find us on Google+  Find us on Pinterest  Tumbler Logo

We thank you for your continued support.

Conservation through research,
education, anaction.

Photo Credits:
Bears on the Sea Ice, Orca, Daniel J. Cox/NaturalExposures.com;
Lead Bear, Collared Mom with Cubs, BJ Kirschhoffer;
Korelian Bear Dog, Wesley Larson

© 2013 Polar Bears International. All Rights Reserved.

 

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Polar Bears International.

 

 

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