Polar bears, formidable apex predators of the Arctic, often raise questions about their interactions with humans. Their immense size and remote habitat contribute to public fascination and concern about potential encounters. Understanding how these powerful animals behave around people is important for human safety and bear conservation.
Polar Bear Foraging Behavior
Polar bears are highly specialized carnivores. Their primary food source is seals, particularly ringed and bearded seals, which provide the high-fat content necessary for survival in the frigid Arctic environment. These bears are adept hunters, utilizing various strategies such as “still-hunting” where they wait patiently by seal breathing holes in the ice. They also stalk seals basking on the ice, using their white fur for camouflage to approach undetected before a final charge.
Their physiology is specifically adapted for this fat-rich diet and the challenging Arctic conditions. Polar bears possess an exceptional sense of smell, enabling them to detect seals from considerable distances, even under snow or ice. When hunting is successful, they often consume only the calorie-dense blubber and skin of a seal, leaving the rest for scavengers. While their hunting success rate can be low, their ability to consume large quantities of fat in a single sitting allows them to build up reserves that sustain them during periods of food scarcity.
Human Encounters and Predation
Humans are not a natural part of a polar bear’s diet, and direct predatory attacks are rare. While polar bears are opportunistic predators, they do not typically view humans as prey. However, under specific, unusual circumstances, a polar bear may exhibit predatory behavior towards a person. This can be distinct from defensive actions, such as a mother protecting her cubs, or exploratory behavior driven by curiosity. When these uncommon predatory attacks occur, they are often carried out by single, nutritionally stressed male bears actively hunting a human for food, rather than a chance encounter.
Factors Influencing Aggressive Behavior
Several factors can increase the likelihood of a polar bear acting aggressively or exhibiting predatory behavior. Hunger is a significant driver, particularly for bears in poor body condition. When sea ice diminishes, bears may be forced onto land for longer periods, leading to food scarcity and increased desperation for sustenance. This can prompt them to approach human settlements in search of alternative food sources like garbage or stored provisions.
Curiosity can also play a role, as polar bears are naturally inquisitive about their environment. An unfamiliar object or scent might attract a bear’s attention. Additionally, a mother polar bear with cubs will be fiercely protective of her young and may react aggressively if she perceives a threat. While territoriality is less pronounced than in some other bear species, bears may defend cached food or specific hunting grounds.
Historical Record of Incidents
Between 1870 and 2014, there were 73 confirmed polar bear attacks across the five polar bear range states, resulting in 20 human fatalities and 63 injuries. The earliest recorded predatory attack dates back to 1595, involving two sailors in the Russian Arctic. There has been a perceived increase in human-polar bear encounters in recent decades, particularly in areas where sea ice loss is most pronounced. For instance, between 2010 and 2014, when sea ice reached record lows, 15 attacks were recorded, the highest number in a four-year period within the study timeframe. A significant majority of attacks since 2000 have occurred between July and December, coinciding with the period of minimum sea ice extent.