Page 5 - Alaskan Polar Bear Adventure 2018
P. 5
Polar bear (Ursus maritimus): Built to survive cold
temperatures, polar bears are found only in the Arctic.
Born on land, they spend most of their time on sea
ice hunting seals, their primary prey. Polar bears are
considered marine mammals due to their dependence
on the ocean for food and habitat. The melting of sea
ice due to climate change led to their classification as a
threatened species in 2008.
Kaktovik is a remote
village of 240 residents
situated along Alaska’s
Arctic coast. Located
on Barter Island in
the Beaufort Sea, it is
the only village within
the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge.
