International Polar Bear Day
Photo: Daniel J. Cox
Take part in this special day by donating, tuning into our live events, participating in our “Protect Moms and Cubs” challenge and more.
International Polar Bear Day is February 27!
We created the day to coincide with the time when polar bear moms and cubs are snug in their dens. As part of our celebration, we focus on the need to protect denning families across the Arctic.
Photo: Daniel J. Cox
Let's Make an Impact
This year, we're raising funds to continue developing a new tool to find and map den locations to help ensure moms and cubs aren’t disturbed—building on earlier promising tests. By protecting dens, you'll protect cubs, helping to ensure their future.
Protecting Moms and Cubs
Right now, polar bear moms and their newborn cubs are snuggled together in snow dens across the Arctic. Denning is the most vulnerable time in a polar bear’s life. And in a warming Arctic, where polar bears already face enormous challenges, the survival of every single cub is critically important.
Keeping moms and cubs safe, while also addressing climate warming, is a critical part of our work on behalf of polar bears—and your support can make a real difference.
Get Involved on Polar Bear Day
Tune in to our live events. We're excited to share an array of live programs as part of our celebration. Check out our schedule, which includes live chats, a special film screening, and a behind the scenes Q&A with the filmmakers!
Donate to protect moms and cubs. Your gift will allow us to continue developing promising new technology for finding and protecting snow dens. This is critically important as more industry moves into the Arctic, threatening denning habitat and putting moms and cubs in harm’s way.
Take our “Protect Moms and Cubs Challenge.” Want to snowball your commitment to moms and cubs? Start a “Protect Moms and Cubs Challenge” fundraiser and invite your friends, family, and colleagues to join you. We’ll reward the top 3 fundraisers with prizes!
Learn about moms and cubs. Discover some of our favorite facts about polar bear families. Share our Moms and Cubs Miniposter and check out our Protecting Moms and Cubs Flip when connecting with youth virtually this year.
Watch a video about our den-detection project. Experience the Arctic cold with our research teams and find out how your donation will help ensure moms and cubs are protected.
Check Out Our Toolkit
Interested in using your voice and platform to raise awareness? Our toolkit provides extra action tools, resources, and ways to get involved!
Explore the Schedule
Q&A on Polar Bear Moms and Cubs
Join our own Dr. Thea Bechshoft on Facebook Live to learn about polar bear moms, cubs, and the denning period. Ask questions and see if you can stump the scientist! The session will air live from Denmark and is timed for our followers in Europe.
Join our own Dr. Thea Bechshoft on Facebook Live to learn about polar bear moms, cubs, and the denning period. Ask questions and see if you can stump the scientist! The session will air live from Denmark and is timed for our followers in Europe.
Video Premiere: Protecting Polar Bear Moms and Cubs
Staff scientist Alysa McCall will join us on Facebook live from Yukon, Canada to talk about our research on moms and cubs and why protecting dens is so important. She’ll share fun facts and unveil a new video that takes you into the field with our team.
Staff scientist Alysa McCall will join us on Facebook live from Yukon, Canada to talk about our research on moms and cubs and why protecting dens is so important. She’ll share fun facts and unveil a new video that takes you into the field with our team.
The Weather Network Video Premiere: Bear Witness
To celebrate International Polar Bear Day, the Weather Network will roll out a video filmed in Churchill, Canada, during the polar bear migration. It highlights our conservation efforts and includes interviews with our own Geoff York.
To celebrate International Polar Bear Day, the Weather Network will roll out a video filmed in Churchill, Canada, during the polar bear migration. It highlights our conservation efforts and includes interviews with our own Geoff York.
Facebook Video Premiere: Protecting Polar Bear Moms and Cubs
If you missed the first showing of our new moms and cubs video, we’re airing it again today. Caught it the first time? Add to your Arctic inspiration by watching it again.
If you missed the first showing of our new moms and cubs video, we’re airing it again today. Caught it the first time? Add to your Arctic inspiration by watching it again.
Behind the Scenes: Filmmaker Q&A
Join Neil Osborne of The Weather Network, Ray Friesen of Handcraft Video, and our own Emily Ringer on Instagram Live as they talk about the experience of filming Bear Witness. Ray will be leaving for Svalbard to film our den study just four days after the event. Come with questions and prepare to be inspired!
Join Neil Osborne of The Weather Network, Ray Friesen of Handcraft Video, and our own Emily Ringer on Instagram Live as they talk about the experience of filming Bear Witness. Ray will be leaving for Svalbard to film our den study just four days after the event. Come with questions and prepare to be inspired!
Did You Know?
Polar Bears International is a leader in polar bear den research, with a long history of projects and partners. The knowledge gained can make a real difference for polar bear families—providing a scientific framework to inform policy and help ensure critical protections.
Our long-term den emergence studies in Svalbard, and earlier in Alaska, add to our understanding of moms and cubs during this sensitive time period. These provide data on the bears’ needs and vulnerabilities. Read our Q&A.
Our team is now researching a promising new den-finding method, Synthetic Aperture Radar, or SAR. This could greatly improve our ability to locate dens under the snow, helping to identify and protect denning areas to ensure the safety of moms and cubs. Your gift will fund this critical research. Learn more.
Our partners in den-study projects include Brigham Young University, San Diego Zoo Global, and the Norwegian Polar Institute.
Learn More About Climate Warming Threats
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