The Venture Bracelet

“The GPS collars allow researchers to track polar bears, helping us learn about their movements in response to sea ice movement as well as loss caused by climate change. Because polar bears prefer to roam far out on sea ice where it is dangerous for humans to travel, data from GPS collars gives scientists a rare glimpse into the lives of polar bears, including the habitats they use and the vast distances they travel.” – Polar Bears International

Learn more about why polar bears are tracked through our partners at Polar Bears International.

Historically, polar bears have been tracked primarily using GPS collars built with flexible, synthetic material that sheds water and ice. Collars are designed to stay flexible in cold temperatures, but are strong enough to withstand Arctic marine conditions for at least one year. Inside the collar’s casing, there is a battery and a transmitter that transmits locations to a satellite. All collars are a small fraction of the bear’s weight.

The collars have a release mechanism with an internal clock that researchers can program. Researchers usually set the timer so that the collar will fall off shortly before the batteries are drained and the collar is no longer transmitting. Also, the collars are attached with steel nuts and brass bolts that eventually corrode in a saltwater environment, causing the collar to fall off even if the release mechanism fails. Once they fall off, a GPS location allows researchers to find the collar (if in a retrievable spot), download any stored data, refurbish, and send it out again.

Learn more about how polar bears are tracked through Polar Bears International

Understandably, there are concerns about the impacts of collaring and human interference on wildlife. Polar bear researchers care deeply about the health of their study animals and regularly assess the impacts of different types of research and adjust as needed.

The most recent study on the long-term impacts of collars on polar bears evaluated the extent to which capture, collaring, and handling may influence polar bear activity, body mass, body condition, reproduction, and survival. Polar bears had a reduction in movements for several days after capture, but this was short-term. There were no long-term effects found on body condition, reproduction, or cub survival. This study showed capture and collaring are not contributing to observed changes in body condition, reproduction or survival seen in the polar bear population.

However, researchers continue to refine methods, make trackers smaller, and find the least invasive ways to study polar bear populations to help inform the best ways we can protect them.

Learn more about why researchers track polar bear, from our partners at Polar Bears International.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), there are up to 26,000 polar bears in the world today. However, this is simply an estimate and it is difficult to know for sure. Due to their declining Arctic sea ice habitat, polar bears are considered a ‘Vulnerable Species,’ with laws in place to protect them.

While people tend to think that polar bears are violent or threatening to humans, they are generally solitary creatures, who only approach human settlements if hungry or curious and usually only lash out if they feel threatened or afraid.

Though they are generally considered to be fairly calm, it is important to remember that polar bears are a large predator and can be unpredictable. When in polar bear country, practicing bear safety is critically important and one should never approach a polar bear for any reason.

Polar bears are not easily frightened. While they do not have any natural enemies or predators, most polar bears will choose to avoid large adult male polar bears as they can be unpredictable and dangerous depending on the time of year and conditions. Polar bears may also avoid humans who can serve as a threat in certain scenarios.

While polar bears appear white, their skin and the surface of their paws are actually black. The soles of their paws are special in the way that they are covered in papillae. These tiny bumps create friction to allow for stability and slip protection when polar bears walk on ice.

Learn about other interesting polar bear adaptations and characteristics on Polar Bears International’s website.

Polar bears' biggest extinction threats stem from climate change, as these animals live on sea ice and thrive in cold temperatures. Sea ice is currently declining due to climate warming, caused by a buildup of too many fossil fuel emissions trapped in the atmosphere, acting like a heat-trapping blanket.

By practicing environmental sustainability through activities like reducing CO2 emissions, switching to renewable energies like solar and wind power, and talking to friends and family about the importance of protecting our resources for the future, we can all play a part in stopping polar bears from becoming extinct.

Learn more about how you can get involved by visiting Take Action on Polar Bears International’s website.