Dramatic Ice Loss Forcing Polar Bears to Swim Farther

Canadian Arctic polar bears are swimming longer distances to find suitable ice in which to hunt seals and rear their young. Scientists are deeply concerned that such swims of several days duration, particularly in the Beaufort Sea, are the cause of population decline in the Arctic.

Canadian researchers tracked 58 adult female polar bears as well as 18 young male and female bears between 2007 and 2012 in the Beaufort Sea. Another group of 59 adult females in the Hudson Bay region were tracked as well. Since adult males typically remove their collars and their larger neck size generally makes it difficult to attach the collars, only the females were tracked.

polar bear swimming

Polar bears are swimming longer distances especially in the Beaufort Sea. Andrew Derocher photo.

Overall, the Hudson Bay polar bears, those including the Churchill population, rarely made long-distance swims.

However, in the Beaufort Sea, during times when sea ice dissipates, many of the polar bears made at least one swim of 50 km or more while 69 per cent did so in 2012, a record low year for ice coverage.

“More and more animals in the population are being caught in places that they just can’t stay – so the ice that they’re on is breaking up, the floes are too small, and they have to make longer distance movements to try to find better habitat,” said Andrew Derocher, a University of Alberta biologist highly involved in the study.

Researchers identified a total of 115 long-distance swims during the study, 100 of them in the Beaufort Sea, with the average distance being 92 km or thew equivalent of 3.4 days. Polar bears average swimming speed is around two km/hour. The bears have very little rest while swimming, rarely stopping and since swimming burns calories at a higher rate than walking, body fat needed for Arctic survival burns away rapidly. One female was tracked on a nine – day, 687 km swim lost her cub on the journey while also dropping 22 per cent of her weight.

polar bears in the Hudson Bay

Polar bear sow and cub swimming in the Hudson Bay. John Lehmann photo.

The polar bear population in the Beaufort Sea has fallen more than 50 per cent in the past 10 years, according to Derocher. The long – distance swimming could have a huge bearing on this data. “So it is a concern that this is probably one of the factors associated with the population decline,” he said.

However, the study found no direct evidence that swimming contributes to the population decline. The polar bears tracked survived all the swims recorded in the study. Researchers were unable to track survival rates of cubs whom may have been with them other than the one extended swim referred to above. Due to hypothermia exposure to cubs, mothers with young seemed to make fewer marathon swims the researchers noted.

“Polar bears are well adapted to swimming,” Derocher said, “but of course, not all polar bears are created equal when it comes to the ability to swim.” Younger bears do not have the insulating body fat nor the stamina for prolonged water journeys.

Until the 1980’s Sea ice in the Beaufort Sea always melted close to shore as summer arrived. With the ice edge visible from land, polar bears utilize that edge during migration as a way to manage their hunting grounds. As the Arctic warms and the summer sea ice edge extends farther and farther north, polar bears are forced to swim long expanses to find stable ice.

Polar bears will need to find alternate food sources in order to survive. Andrew Derocher photo.

Polar bears will need to find alternate food sources in order to survive. Andrew Derocher photo.

The dynamic Hudson Bay polar bear population has adapted to ice completely melting in summertime by spending long periods of time on land and in the shallows. Reliant on other food sources, polar bears in this region, including Churchill, have adapted somewhat and continue to develop ways to augment their winter food sources. Beluga whales, berries, bird – eggs and land seal – kills are more common food sources these days for the animals.

Polar bear seal kill in Churchill

Polar bear and ravens scavenge a seal kill carcass on land in Churchill Wildlife Management Area. Brad Josephs photo.

Despite Scientists previous predictions that polar bears would need to swim farther as climate change causes chaos with Arctic sea ice, this was the first study showing enough data to actually show the correlation.

Churchill Photos of the Week – Aurora Fever

Churchill photographer Alex De Vries – Magnifico recently had these images selected by Manitoba Travel for promotion of the provincial tourism initiative. These incredible northern lights shots have been featured before by churchillpolarbears.org though a second showing never hurts One of the most prolific aurora borealis seasons in recent history produced numerous magical photos of the northern lights. These are surely a few of the best. Enjoy!

Northern lights in Churchill, Manitoba

Northern lights over the boreal forest in Churchill. Alex De Vries – Magnifico photo.

Northern Lights in Churchill, Manitoba.

Spectacular northern lights above Churchill. Alex De Vries – Magnifico photo.

Northern lights Wapusk Adventures in Churchill, Manitoba

Tee – pee at Wapusk Adventures in Churchill. Alex De Vries – Magnifico photo.

Wapusk Adventures oin Churchill, Manitoba

Enjoying the fire inside the tee – pee at Wapusk Adventures in Churchill. Alex De Vries – Magnifico photo.

Churchill Sunday Photo – Beluga Breach

During my decade – long tenure of guiding Churchill Arctic summer trips for Natural Habitat Adventures I didn’t see more than a dozen beluga whale faces out of the water. This unique shot was a lucky day out on the water when the whale gods were smiling down and I had my camera ready at just the right moment. It’s the closest I ever came to seeing a breach which rarely ever occurs in the beluga population. The moment is preserved for me to remember what love I have for the gregarious beluga whales of Churchill. I hope to get back soon to see the thousands of whales in the Churchill River estuary!

Beluga whale in Churchill , Manitoba

A beluga whale emerges from the water as it follows our zodiac. Steve Selden photo.

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