Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) on Arctic sea ice.
Image: Andreas Weith, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
At a glance
- IUCN category
- VU · Vulnerable
- Animal group
- Mammals
- Population trend
- Trend unknown
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The polar bear is the largest living land carnivore — a marine mammal that hunts seals from Arctic sea ice. It is assessed as Vulnerable.
It depends on sea ice to hunt, so the timing and extent of ice strongly shape where and how well polar bears can feed.
Range & habitat
Circumpolar across the Arctic sea ice of Canada, the United States (Alaska), Russia, Greenland, and Norway.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Loss of sea-ice habitat linked to a warming climate
- Pollution
- Disturbance from industrial activity
Why it matters
The polar bear sits at the top of the Arctic food web and has become a widely recognised indicator of change in that environment.
Gallery
A polar bear — Vulnerable, and dependent on sea ice.
Image: Arturo de Frias Marques, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources
Sources for Polar Bear
- IUCN Red List — look up Polar Bear (authoritative status)
- Animal Diversity Web
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the polar bear Vulnerable?
Are polar bears marine mammals?
Last updated: