ALASKA’S POLAR BEARS: Less Drilling, More Chilling

Polar Bear Mother With Cub, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Polar Bear Mother With Cub, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (Credit: TNWA Photography)

All About Alaska’s Polar Bears

Alaska’s polar bears (Ursus maritimus) are the ultimate Arctic chillers — they’re built to survive in freezing temperatures and masters of calorie conservation in one of the harshest climates on Earth. But while they prefer a life of snow, sea ice, and seal hunting, their icy kingdom is under threat from climate change and oil drilling. If we want to keep these incredible bears chilling, we need to stop drilling.

How much do you know about polar bears? Read on below!

The Ultimate Arctic Swimmers: Polar bears can swim for days at a time, covering up to 60 miles without stopping. Their slightly webbed paws make them Olympic-level paddlers! But, calorie-demanding swimming comes at an enormous cost: If bears cannot find food, this activity can drive them into a starvation state.

Black Skin, Transparent Fur: Beneath their thick fur, polar bears have black skin to absorb and retain heat. Their fur isn’t actually white—it’s transparent and reflects light!

Super Sniffers: A polar bear’s nose is so powerful that it can smell a seal from up to 20 miles away, even when it’s hidden under several feet of ice.

They Overheat: Yes, Really! Despite the freezing temperatures, polar bears can get too hot! They’ll often roll in the snow or take a dip to cool off.

Born in a Snow Cave: Polar bear cubs are born in dens made of snow, where they stay cozy until they’re ready to venture out into the Arctic cold. Mothers don’t eat or drink for months while nursing their cubs.

Polar bear, Ursus maritimus, sow with spring cub, newly emerged from their den in late wintertime, get acclimated to the outdoors before they head out onto the sea ice to hunt seals, along the arctic coast of Alaska Photo: Steven Kazlowski

Fasting Champions: Polar bears can go without food for months when sea ice melts and hunting becomes nearly impossible. But with climate change shrinking the ice season, these fasting periods are getting longer.

More Oil Drilling, Less Polar Bear Chilling

The biggest threat to polar bears isn’t the cold—it’s the heat. As Arctic temperatures rise due to climate change, the sea ice polar bears rely on for hunting is disappearing. And as if that wasn’t bad enough, oil and gas drilling activity directly threatens their habitat.

How Drilling Puts Polar Bears in Danger

Loss of Denning Habitat: Polar bears depend on Arctic coastal areas to build dens for their cubs. Oil exploration disturbs these critical spaces, making it harder for moms to raise their young.

Oil Spills = Arctic Disaster: If an oil spill occurs in the Arctic, cleanup is nearly impossible. Polar bears exposed to oil can suffer poisoning, fur contamination, and hypothermia. (Oil contamination of polar bears research here.)

More contact with humans: As sea ice disappears and food becomes scarce, polar bears are spending more time on land—bringing them into closer contact with humans. In Arctic communities, bears are increasingly scavenging in garbage dumps, entering villages, and even breaking into homes in search of food. This not only puts people at risk but also leads to more bears being relocated or killed as a safety measure. These dangerous encounters will only become more frequent with more drilling activities.

More Drilling, Less Chilling:  If we want to keep polar bears thriving in the wild, we need to protect the Arctic from reckless drilling and rising temperatures, and give polar bears the space they need to avoid humans. Less drilling, more chilling!