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Fact: While polar bears are apex predators and formidable hunters, they are not inherently aggressive towards humans. In their natural habitat, polar bears typically avoid confrontations and will only attack if they feel threatened or provoked. Human-bear conflicts often arise in regions where their habitat overlaps with human settlements or where food sources are scarce due to climate change. Understanding and respecting these magnificent animals’ space and behavior are crucial for coexisting safely with them in the Arctic.

Credit: Fireweed Frolic. Dennis Fast.

This project, which has been several years in the making by WWF and MIX Research focuses on sampling polar bear footprints by scraping snow from polar bear tracks, to extract environmental DNA (eDNA) and gain valuable insights for conservation efforts. By examining the eDNA in the footprints, they were able to figure out the bear’s diet.

Because they spend most of their lives on the sea ice of the Arctic Ocean depending on the ocean for their food and habitat, polar bears are the only bear species to be considered marine mammals.