The polar bear is a marine mammal uniquely adapted to a life defined by sea ice. In the United States, these predators are found only in Alaska, where they exist at the edge of the continent. Their classification as marine mammals stems from their deep reliance on the marine environment for survival. The existence of polar bears in this state is a direct reflection of the specialized Arctic ecosystems that fringe the northern coastlines.
Geographic Range and Population
Alaska is home to two distinct populations of polar bears. The Southern Beaufort Sea population is found along the state’s northern coast and extends into Canada’s Arctic territories, with a significant portion of their habitat overlapping the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The second group, the Chukchi Sea population, occupies Alaska’s northwestern coast and the waters reaching into Russia. The range of these animals is not fixed; it expands and contracts with the seasonal advance and retreat of the pack ice.
Population estimates for these bears are challenging to acquire. The Southern Beaufort Sea population experienced a significant decline in the early 2000s and stabilized at around 900 individuals. However, a draft 2025 estimate suggests a further decrease to 819 bears. The Chukchi Sea population is estimated at approximately 2,937 bears, but this number has a low confidence level, with a possible range between 1,500 and 6,000.
Habitat and Behavior in the Alaskan Arctic
The survival of polar bears is linked to the presence of sea ice, which serves as their primary platform for hunting. Their Latin name, Ursus maritimus, or “sea bear,” highlights this connection. In the Alaskan Arctic, their main prey consists of ringed and bearded seals, which are rich in the fat necessary to endure the harsh environment. The bears patiently wait near breathing holes in the ice or stalk seals resting on the frozen surface.
Beyond hunting, sea ice is used for seasonal movements and breeding. While seals are their preferred food, polar bears are also known to scavenge on the carcasses of large marine animals like whales when available. This adaptability provides an alternative food source in an environment of fluctuating resources.
Denning is another fundamental behavior, particularly for pregnant females. To give birth and nurture their cubs, females excavate maternity dens. These dens are typically located on land along the coast or on stable, thick sea ice that will remain solid through the winter. Inside, the cubs are born and nursed, emerging months later when they are strong enough to survive the external conditions.
Conservation Status and Major Threats
Polar bears are listed as a threatened species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (2008). The primary threat driving this classification is the ongoing loss of their sea ice habitat, a direct consequence of climate change. As global temperatures rise, the Arctic sea ice melts earlier in the summer and forms later in the fall.
This shrinking ice cover curtails the time polar bears have to hunt seals, which is their most productive period for building essential fat reserves. As a result, bears are forced to swim longer distances between ice floes or spend more time on land, away from their primary food source. This can lead to poor nutritional health, lower cub survival rates, and an increase in conflicts with humans as bears search for alternative foods near coastal communities.
Industrial activities also present a risk. Oil and gas exploration and development in their habitat can cause disturbances. The noise from seismic surveys and drilling operations can displace bears from important denning areas and disrupt their natural behaviors. An oil spill would have severe consequences, as contact with oil can mat a polar bear’s fur, reducing its insulating properties, and be toxic if ingested.
Human and Polar Bear Interactions
For many Alaska Native communities, polar bears hold cultural and subsistence significance. These communities have coexisted with the bears for thousands of years, and a regulated subsistence hunt by Alaska Natives is permitted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. This tradition is an important part of their cultural heritage and food security.
Tourism also facilitates encounters between humans and polar bears. Viewing opportunities are concentrated in specific coastal locations, such as Kaktovik on Barter Island and Utqiaġvik. These viewings are most common in the late summer and fall, when bears gather ashore, waiting for the sea to freeze.
These interactions are managed through regulated, guided tours designed to ensure the safety of both people and the animals. The goal is to minimize disturbance to the bears, allowing for observation without adding stress to a population already facing significant environmental challenges. Respectful viewing practices are a component of the broader conservation effort for this iconic Arctic species.