National Polar Bear Day is February 27

National or International Polar Bear is February 27. This day is all about the conservation efforts for Polar Bears. Many of us have seen the viral pictures of heartbreaking starving Polar Bears over the last two years. Please do not hate me for this, but Polar die too and one of the primary ways that they die is starvation, because they are at the top of the food chain.

There no doubt the Polar Bear habitat is shrinking. With shrinkage and loss of habitat the polar bear days may be numbered.

The Polar Bear as is an important indicator of the health of the eco-system. Many animals are dependent on polar bears. The Arctic Fox and Owl eats leftovers from Polar Bears. Polar Bears eat Seals, which keeps that population down, which keeps the fish population in line. Too many seals.. too little fish. As a top predator they enhance biodiversity, which is important for a healthy environment. Too little fish threatens the people who depend on fish for both food and employment.

Polar Bears could become extinct in our lifetime. Due to climate change and the loss of their sea ice polar bears were listed as a threatened species in the US under the Endangered Species Act in May 2008.

Not only are they threatened by Climate Change, now they want to drill for Oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, home to about 1500 Polar Bears and a host of other wildlife. Drilling involves seismic testing, which is not only illegal but is harmful to denning Polar Bears and whales, and caribou… The Senate just approved drilling and Adam Kolton, executive director of the Alaska Wilderness League, said the bill “would allow roads, pipelines, gravel mines and well pads to be erected across the entire birthing grounds of the coastal plain, where caribou calve and where polar bear mothers den.”

We need to protect Polar Bears, not because they are cute, cuddly and poster child, but because they are important to the eco system and to the ocean economy.

Resources

• International Polar Bear Day ; Founded in 1992 their ‘mission is to conserve polar bears and the sea ice they depend on. Through media, science, and advocacy, we work to inspire people to care about the Arctic, the threats to its future, and the connection between this remote region and global climate.’
• National Wildlife Federation 
• Care2 10 Reasons To Save Polar Bears 
• Defenders of Wildlife 
• Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
• NY Times: Drilling in Arctic 
• Eco Watch: Trump Green Lights Arctic Drilling 
• Washington Post: What’s More More Bad Thing About the Tax. Ask The Polar Bears