Bears are almost lining up to begin their migration and return to the ice.
Polar bears are showing up in a small Canadian town due to migration. This phenomenon is associated with the return of sea ice, which they need for hunting.
IFLScience writes about this.
In order to get to the “seal city,” the animals are forced to go through the town of Churchill, which is called the “polar bear capital of the world.”
Polar bears in this region have been on land since they leave the sea ice in the summer. At the same time, the animals currently eat little and conserve energy, since they survive mainly due to fat reserves.
For scientists, this is a good time to study polar bears and their lifestyle. According to biologist and conservationist Alice McCall of Polar Bears International (PBI), she goes on research trips every year from late October to November to monitor polar bears and their migrations.
However, human-induced climate change has led to longer summers and increased land use by bears, whose natural habitat was once much larger.
The problem is that the animals have a limited amount of time on land before they starve to death. With Arctic sea ice shrinking, polar bears are likely to spend more time on land, which could lead to the species' extinction in the future.
Polar bears migrate through the town of Churchill every year, so locals use sirens and horns to reduce interactions with the animals. Researchers have also created an early warning radar called “Bear-dar” to alert communities and remote camps when a bear is approaching.
Here's a reminder of how to tell if your furry friend is sick.
Related Topics:
More News
