Canada is home to a significant portion of the world’s polar bear population. These bears are iconic symbols of the Canadian North, integrated into both the environment and the cultural heritage of Indigenous communities. Their presence highlights the unique ecological characteristics of Canada’s vast Arctic and subarctic regions. The well-being of polar bears in Canada is closely monitored, reflecting their importance to global biodiversity.
Geographic Distribution Across Canada
Polar bears are found across Canada’s northern reaches, spanning seven provinces and territories from the Yukon in the west to Newfoundland and Labrador in the east. Their distribution extends from the high Arctic islands, such as Northern Ellesmere Island, south to the subarctic waters of James Bay. These regions encompass diverse landscapes, including the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Hudson Bay, and the Labrador Coast. The majority of Canada’s polar bears reside within the northernmost territories of Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.
These areas provide the ice-covered marine environments that polar bears rely on. While their range includes vast stretches of coastline and numerous islands, their movements are largely dictated by the seasonal presence and characteristics of sea ice. The Canadian Arctic, with its complex network of channels and archipelagos, offers varied ice conditions that influence where bears can be found throughout the year.
Essential Habitat Features
Polar bear habitat is defined by environmental elements, with sea ice being the most important. They primarily inhabit annual sea ice that covers continental shelves and the areas between archipelagos. This ice serves as a platform for hunting seals, travel, mating, and, in some cases, denning.
Polar bears utilize features such as cracking ice, ice edges, and breathing holes to ambush seals. When sea ice melts in summer, bears are forced onto coastal areas, where they rely on fat reserves until the ice reforms. Coastal lands also serve as important locations for maternity dens.
Key Canadian Subpopulations
Canada manages or co-manages 13 of the 19 global polar bear subpopulations, which are distinct groups identified by their geographical ranges and movement patterns. For example, the Western Hudson Bay subpopulation is located in the western portion of Hudson Bay, extending from the Manitoba/Ontario border north into Nunavut.
The Southern Hudson Bay subpopulation occupies the eastern and southern parts of Hudson Bay, including James Bay, and represents the world’s southernmost year-round polar bear habitat, encompassing parts of Ontario and Quebec. Further north, the Baffin Bay subpopulation is shared with Greenland and spans the waters between Baffin Island and Greenland.
The Lancaster Sound subpopulation, situated at the eastern entrance to the Northwest Passage in the Canadian High Arctic, is known for having one of the largest polar bear populations. In Canada’s western Arctic, the Southern and Northern Beaufort Sea subpopulations are found off the coasts of the Northwest Territories and Yukon, with the Southern Beaufort Sea group being shared with the United States. Other significant Canadian subpopulations include Foxe Basin, Gulf of Boothia, M’Clintock Channel, Viscount Melville Sound, and Norwegian Bay.