Sea ice losses from climate change are the best-known habitat threat to polar bears. Polar bears rely on the sea ice for hunting their seal prey and for traveling, breeding, and sometimes denning.
But polar bears also rely on land during some stages in their life cycle. For example, although some female polar bears give birth to their cubs in maternal dens on the sea ice, the majority use snow dens on land. Due to increased human activity, there are concerns that denning families could be disturbed without careful management.
Polar bears in seasonal ice areas come ashore in summer when the sea ice melts and must wait until ice forms in the fall before they can return to hunting seals. While on land, they run the risk of encounters with people as they are curious animals that will investigate unusual sights or smells—especially when hungry.