@aederocher.bsky.social
The benefit of being in a Tundra Buggy is that a bear is close but not a threat...
November 1, 2025 at 2:15 AM
The benefit of being in a Tundra Buggy is that a bear is close but not a threat...
Nowhere close to freeze up in Hudson Bay this year. It's far too warm. No sea ice anywhere. Things can change quickly but the Bay has to cool a lot before ice strong enough to support polar bears shows up. Watch the Bay live here:
explore.org/livecams/pol...
explore.org/livecams/pol...
October 29, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Nowhere close to freeze up in Hudson Bay this year. It's far too warm. No sea ice anywhere. Things can change quickly but the Bay has to cool a lot before ice strong enough to support polar bears shows up. Watch the Bay live here:
explore.org/livecams/pol...
explore.org/livecams/pol...
Latest polar bear paper exploring their role in providing carrion to other vertebrate species. Polar bears provide approximately 7,600,000 kg/year of carrion biomass for scavengers across their range.
nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... [open access]
nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... [open access]
October 28, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Latest polar bear paper exploring their role in providing carrion to other vertebrate species. Polar bears provide approximately 7,600,000 kg/year of carrion biomass for scavengers across their range.
nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... [open access]
nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... [open access]
Mom & cub on the shores of Hudson Bay on the polar bear cam (explore.org/livecams/pol...). Timing of sea ice freezing up is critical for cub survival. If mom runs out of stored energy, she stops nursing & cubs have little stored energy of their own as they are growing so fast. This is a weak link.
October 26, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Mom & cub on the shores of Hudson Bay on the polar bear cam (explore.org/livecams/pol...). Timing of sea ice freezing up is critical for cub survival. If mom runs out of stored energy, she stops nursing & cubs have little stored energy of their own as they are growing so fast. This is a weak link.
No alarm for Hudson Bay polar bears yet as there's time for things to cool but at these temperatures, the Bay will still be warming. Normal for this date is -3 C to -9 C. It's a bit cooler further north but not cold. 1 kg of body mass loss per day - how long can they wait?
October 26, 2025 at 5:13 PM
No alarm for Hudson Bay polar bears yet as there's time for things to cool but at these temperatures, the Bay will still be warming. Normal for this date is -3 C to -9 C. It's a bit cooler further north but not cold. 1 kg of body mass loss per day - how long can they wait?
Hudson Bay polar bears are waiting (& will be for quite a while with the current weather - it's well above normal temperatures there). For now, most bears will still have lots of stored energy but the skinniest will be seriously hoping for sea ice to form so they can start feeding again.
October 25, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Hudson Bay polar bears are waiting (& will be for quite a while with the current weather - it's well above normal temperatures there). For now, most bears will still have lots of stored energy but the skinniest will be seriously hoping for sea ice to form so they can start feeding again.
Not much sign of freeze up coming anytime soon in Hudson Bay. At these temperatures, the Bay will need to cool for a while. Now, it's all about the weather & colder is better for polar bears. You can watch the Bay (& sometimes polar bears) here: explore.org/livecams/pol...
October 14, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Not much sign of freeze up coming anytime soon in Hudson Bay. At these temperatures, the Bay will need to cool for a while. Now, it's all about the weather & colder is better for polar bears. You can watch the Bay (& sometimes polar bears) here: explore.org/livecams/pol...
Hudson Bay polar bears are waiting for the ice to form. It's +18 C (64 F) right now in Churchill & way above normal so they'll be waiting for a while. Bears are now about 120 days on land & have lost about 120 kg (265 lb). Bears without enough energy risk dying: it's survival of the fattest.
October 11, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Hudson Bay polar bears are waiting for the ice to form. It's +18 C (64 F) right now in Churchill & way above normal so they'll be waiting for a while. Bears are now about 120 days on land & have lost about 120 kg (265 lb). Bears without enough energy risk dying: it's survival of the fattest.
Western Hudson Bay polar bears are staying put & saving their energy. It's cooking there today at 27 C (81 F). At these temperatures, the Bay will still be warming. Field crew out now monitoring the bears report them in good condition with good subadult recruitment. Bodes well for this year.
September 14, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Western Hudson Bay polar bears are staying put & saving their energy. It's cooking there today at 27 C (81 F). At these temperatures, the Bay will still be warming. Field crew out now monitoring the bears report them in good condition with good subadult recruitment. Bodes well for this year.
Western Hudson Bay polar bears are doing what they usually do during the ice-free period: nothing. Energy conservation is the priority. For moms with cubs, avoiding other bears is also important (infanticide risk). Now the bears wait for cold & sea ice to return.
August 18, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Western Hudson Bay polar bears are doing what they usually do during the ice-free period: nothing. Energy conservation is the priority. For moms with cubs, avoiding other bears is also important (infanticide risk). Now the bears wait for cold & sea ice to return.
Latest from @ualberta.bsky.social polar bear research & Environment & Climate Change Canada.
"percent of solitary females that were pregnant declined significantly over time and between time periods from 85% in 1982–90 to 73% in 1991–2021." Open access:
academic.oup.com/conphys/arti...
"percent of solitary females that were pregnant declined significantly over time and between time periods from 85% in 1982–90 to 73% in 1991–2021." Open access:
academic.oup.com/conphys/arti...
August 7, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Latest from @ualberta.bsky.social polar bear research & Environment & Climate Change Canada.
"percent of solitary females that were pregnant declined significantly over time and between time periods from 85% in 1982–90 to 73% in 1991–2021." Open access:
academic.oup.com/conphys/arti...
"percent of solitary females that were pregnant declined significantly over time and between time periods from 85% in 1982–90 to 73% in 1991–2021." Open access:
academic.oup.com/conphys/arti...
Great to see & on my reading list. The anti-science nonsense about polar bears by climate change deniers was intense. Fortunately, the "counterpoint" media looked for on climate change effects on polar bears has evaporated as the key sources was toppled. We may, however, be moving into a new era.
August 5, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Great to see & on my reading list. The anti-science nonsense about polar bears by climate change deniers was intense. Fortunately, the "counterpoint" media looked for on climate change effects on polar bears has evaporated as the key sources was toppled. We may, however, be moving into a new era.
Western Hudson Bay polar bears are well spread out from Ontario to Nunavut (including 1 well to the NE). More bears went south than "normal" but it was also reflected in spring captures with many bears having no prior history. Now they wait for freeze-up (29 C, 84 F) forecast so it's hot!
August 1, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Western Hudson Bay polar bears are well spread out from Ontario to Nunavut (including 1 well to the NE). More bears went south than "normal" but it was also reflected in spring captures with many bears having no prior history. Now they wait for freeze-up (29 C, 84 F) forecast so it's hot!
Welcome home (almost all). Western Hudson Bay polar bears are ashore. High variation in onshore dates this year: some early & some late. Increased variation in polar bear ecology with climate change is common. We have a new paper soon showing high variation in pregnancy rates.
July 23, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Welcome home (almost all). Western Hudson Bay polar bears are ashore. High variation in onshore dates this year: some early & some late. Increased variation in polar bear ecology with climate change is common. We have a new paper soon showing high variation in pregnancy rates.
It's very unusual to see polar bears still out on so little sea ice. This is a change in behaviour compared to the past when 30% ice cover meant heading for land. Perhaps the hunting is still good? Perhaps they need to fatten more? Maybe they found a few solid bits of ice?
July 22, 2025 at 2:28 AM
It's very unusual to see polar bears still out on so little sea ice. This is a change in behaviour compared to the past when 30% ice cover meant heading for land. Perhaps the hunting is still good? Perhaps they need to fatten more? Maybe they found a few solid bits of ice?
Some Hudson Bay polar bears STILL out on the last bits of sea ice. It's an interesting change in behaviour to have the bears out on so little ice. There's a reason for it: seals. No chance of killing a seal on land but they can out on the ice. Must be naive seals that come near the last ice.
July 12, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Some Hudson Bay polar bears STILL out on the last bits of sea ice. It's an interesting change in behaviour to have the bears out on so little ice. There's a reason for it: seals. No chance of killing a seal on land but they can out on the ice. Must be naive seals that come near the last ice.
For those curious about Bear E4, it's an adult male caught near Cape Churchill in Manitoba this spring who was on northern Québec a few days ago but has now moved to Mansel Island, Nunavut. This fellow isn't scared of swimming.
July 10, 2025 at 2:53 PM
For those curious about Bear E4, it's an adult male caught near Cape Churchill in Manitoba this spring who was on northern Québec a few days ago but has now moved to Mansel Island, Nunavut. This fellow isn't scared of swimming.
With so little ice left in western Hudson Bay, a surprising number of polar bears still hanging on to the last bits. This behaviour contrasts to the past when 50% ice cover had the bears ashore within weeks. The bears know what they're doing (or trying to do) [in an evolutionary context].
July 10, 2025 at 2:47 PM
With so little ice left in western Hudson Bay, a surprising number of polar bears still hanging on to the last bits. This behaviour contrasts to the past when 50% ice cover had the bears ashore within weeks. The bears know what they're doing (or trying to do) [in an evolutionary context].
Churchill is warm: for context, normal is max 17°C & min 7°C. Sea ice has disappeared in the west with the more typical pattern of southern remnant ice (current & wind driven). We'll update tracked polar bear locations soon but if any bears are still out in Hudson Bay, they're on tiny bits of ice.
July 9, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Churchill is warm: for context, normal is max 17°C & min 7°C. Sea ice has disappeared in the west with the more typical pattern of southern remnant ice (current & wind driven). We'll update tracked polar bear locations soon but if any bears are still out in Hudson Bay, they're on tiny bits of ice.
Strong currents in this area but a swim of >200 miles isn't a problem. Swimming 4 miles/hour for 24 hours gets a bear almost 100 miles/day - add in currents. The bear in the attached paper was doing almost 50 miles/day for 9 days (426 miles total distance). I agree - we need a closer look.
July 7, 2025 at 2:38 AM
Strong currents in this area but a swim of >200 miles isn't a problem. Swimming 4 miles/hour for 24 hours gets a bear almost 100 miles/day - add in currents. The bear in the attached paper was doing almost 50 miles/day for 9 days (426 miles total distance). I agree - we need a closer look.
It's amazing to see so many polar bears still out on the last bits of ice in Hudson Bay. Bear E4 made it to land on the northern tip of Québec. Staying out on so little sea ice is a big shift in behaviour from the past decades.
July 5, 2025 at 3:33 AM
It's amazing to see so many polar bears still out on the last bits of ice in Hudson Bay. Bear E4 made it to land on the northern tip of Québec. Staying out on so little sea ice is a big shift in behaviour from the past decades.
Hudson Bay polar bears are hanging on to the last bits of sea ice in 2025. In the past <30% ice & bears were heading ashore. It appears the bears are now somewhat more flexible in their behaviour & staying out longer. Perhaps by necessity as they were lean this spring?
July 3, 2025 at 4:14 AM
Hudson Bay polar bears are hanging on to the last bits of sea ice in 2025. In the past <30% ice & bears were heading ashore. It appears the bears are now somewhat more flexible in their behaviour & staying out longer. Perhaps by necessity as they were lean this spring?
Precious little ice left in Hudson Bay but some polar bears we're tracking are staying offshore. Based on their poor condition this spring, some bears may need another seal or two to survive the on land period. Satellite images can't see the small bits the bears are using.
June 29, 2025 at 1:29 AM
Precious little ice left in Hudson Bay but some polar bears we're tracking are staying offshore. Based on their poor condition this spring, some bears may need another seal or two to survive the on land period. Satellite images can't see the small bits the bears are using.
Most Hudson Bay polar bears are hanging on to the last of the ice. Several have crossed over to land. Sea ice is where the bears would prefer to be. One bear way offshore will have to make a move soon for which way to go for land.
June 25, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Most Hudson Bay polar bears are hanging on to the last of the ice. Several have crossed over to land. Sea ice is where the bears would prefer to be. One bear way offshore will have to make a move soon for which way to go for land.
Hudson Bay polar bears are coming ashore. It’s an early break up. When I started studying the bears here in 1984, some stayed out on the ice until August. They use 1 kg of stored energy per day so the ice-free period is a key factor in their success. The bears on the ice will be trying for seals.
June 23, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Hudson Bay polar bears are coming ashore. It’s an early break up. When I started studying the bears here in 1984, some stayed out on the ice until August. They use 1 kg of stored energy per day so the ice-free period is a key factor in their success. The bears on the ice will be trying for seals.