Polar Bears.

Last December, Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne announced that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was proposing to list the polar bear as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. To assist the Service in making that recommendation, the Secretary directed the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Geological Survey to aggressively work with the public and the scientific community to broaden our understanding of what is happening with the species.

The primary threat to polar bears is the decrease of sea ice coverage. Although some females use snow dens on land for birthing cubs, polar bears are almost completely dependent upon sea ice for their sustenance. Any significant changes in the abundance, distribution, or existence of sea ice will have effects on the number and behavior of these animals and their prey.

In January 2008, following a one-year review period, the Service is expected to make a recommendation to Secretary Kempthorne on whether or not to list the polar bear as threatened. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will use the remaining months to gather more information, undertake additional analyses, and assess the reliability of relevant scientific models before making a final decision whether to list the species. The Service is committed to using all relevant and accurate scientific data available in order to arrive at an informed and scientifically supported decision. To ensure the public has an opportunity to review and react to all new information, an additional public comment period will be provided, but with the final decision on the listing proposal expected in early 2008, this additional comment period will necessarily be short.

Press Releases:

Polar Bears. [Photo Credit: Steve Hillebrand, USFWS]

Additional Documents and Information:

• USFWS Polar Bear Conservation Issues Web Page
• Polar Bear Proposed Rule
• Twelve Month Finding and Proposed Rule
• Polar Bear Fact Sheet
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Endangered Species Act Petition Process Fact Sheet