Every fall, polar bears gather along Hudson Bay near Churchill, Canada, waiting patiently for the sea ice to return so they can hunt seals. However, the ice-free summer now stretches three to four weeks longer than it did in the 1980s, pushing these magnificent animals to the very limits of their strength.

Polar Bears International created Polar Bear Week, celebrated November 1-7 to coincide with the bears’ gathering near Churchill as they wait for the ideal ice that leads them back to their seal-hunting grounds. It is a week to celebrate these beloved animals and to stand up for the climate action they urgently need: and you can help!

Protecting Arctic sea ice is vital to the many species whose lives depend on this fragile ecosystem across the circumpolar North.

In some regions, polar bears now endure three to four more weeks on land than their ancestors did, with far less to eat. They rely on sea ice to hunt, breed, and, in some cases, make dens, and raise their young.

Burning fossil fuels for energy sends carbon dioxide into our atmosphere. Like a heavy blanket, it traps heat that would otherwise escape, upsetting our climate and melting the Arctic sea ice that polar bears and people alike depend on.

Longer stretches on land leave hungry, stressed polar bears sharing space with people for more of the year, raising the risk of dangerous encounters for bears and humans alike.

The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium partners with Polar Bears International’s Arctic Ambassador Center Network to inspire our community to act for the wild polar bears who need us. To learn more about the challenges these amazing Arctic animals face, visit this link.