There is no question that Polar Bears would be able to adapt to warmer climates. The problem though is that they would also have to change what they feed upon. This is going to definitely upset the balance of the food chain out there. It is also going to alter the ability of many of the Polar Bears to survive. While evolution is possible, it won’t be without the loss of large numbers as only the strongest will survive.
What researchers have found to be a huge problem for many Polar Bears is the changes in the ice mass. They are used to walking along it to get from land to the water again. What can occur is that while Polar Bears are on land the ice formation that they took to get there can melt or break off. As a result they may end up being stranded on a piece of land. Should there not be sufficient food there, they may not be able to survive.
Polar Bears need the colder weather too for them to be comfortable. When you see them in the Arctic weather you may feel sorry for them. However, there is no need to because they become too warm when their bodies reach only 50 degrees Fahrenheit. With the overall temperature of the Arctic region increasing annually be a few degrees many experts have reason to be concerned about this for the overall future of the Polar Bears.
In fact there is a greater chance of a Polar Bear dying from overheating than there is of freezing even though the temperatures in the Arctic waters are often well below zero. Their bodies are designed to handle the extreme cold but not the extreme heat. In fact, it is often hard to determine the cause of death for a Polar Bear. The chance to examine their remains is virtually nonexistent. However, many researchers have a theory that their bodies functions are shut down or severely damaged by the heat and that can cause an early death in many instances.