My previous post discussed the unsettling reality that Alaskan rivers are turning acidic and orange in color. The working theory to explain this phenomenon states that climate change is melting deep layers of permafrost. The melted permafrost is releasing sediments full of iron. When this happens, oxidation causes iron to rust and gives it a reddish-orange appearance. The oxidized minerals are draining into the rivers and causing the clear streams to become acidic and orange in appearance. This is only one way global warming is affecting the Arctic.
Unfortunately, a recent air survey conducted in the “Polar Bear Capital of the World” (Churchill, Canada) found 224 LESS bears than the previous survey in 2016. Typically, a thousand polar bears every year migrate here in fall, but there has been a 50% decline in polar bear population in the area (since the 1980s).
So what is causing this dramatic decline? Again, it all comes back to climate warming. Polar bears rely on the sea ice for several needs- food, shelter, and reproduction. Cracking and melting sea ice has made it difficult for these animals to hunt. Polar bears perch on the ice, keeping watch until they see a seal (their favorite meal!). Lack of food lessens the ability of female polar bears to care for their offspring, and young bears require food (which equals energy) to grow.
It may sound like all hope is lost for these precious bears, but some bears are displaying unusual behavior to help them with the effects of climate change.
First of all, a starving polar bear in the Norwegian Arctic was spotted eating a dolphin (even though polar bears typically hunt for seals and researchers had never witnessed these bears eating this species of dolphin prior). What’s more– the polar bear hid his leftovers in the snow! Some species (including humans and grizzly bears) do this regularly, but it has not been seen much in polar bears!
Next, polar bears are eating snow geese eggs when they have no food. Peter Ewins runs Arctic conservation for the conservation group WWF and he likened this source of food to “eating granola once a day for the summer, and expecting it to sustain you for the next six months”. As you can see, it is NOT a substantial source of food for these bears, but they are resorting to unusual methods to try and satisfy their hunger.
Overall, there are measures polar bears– and governments (scientists from several countries, including Canada, Russia, and the United States released a ten-year plan to improve polar bear population)– are taking to combat harmful climate change.
Starving polar bear in Canada
Sources:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/150904-polar-bears-dolphins-seals-climate-change
Energy for the Environment 
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