These great white bears are an icon of the Arctic, and many people feel a connection to polar bears, even if they\u2019ve never seen one in person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Polar Bear Crisis Infographic<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But you\u2019ve probably also seen images circulating on the internet of starving polar bears struggling to stand, let alone hunt and contend with the elements. Habitat loss, human disturbance and climate change are combining to overwhelm polar bears. Alaska\u2019s Arctic is rapidly overheating, experiencing the effects of climate change at twice the rate of the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge\u2019s coastal plain is the most important land habitat for denning polar bears, and 76% of the coastal plain is designated critical polar bear habitat. Yet that is precisely where devastating drilling for oil and gas is proposed to take place<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Source: DEFENDERS OF WILD LIFE<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Manager\u2019s Office Team<\/strong><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" These great white bears are an icon of the Arctic, and many people feel a connection to polar bears, even…<\/p>","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":11191,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":""},"categories":[191],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n