At this time of year, wild polar bear mothers and their newborn cubs are nestled in their dens, where the cubs remain until they are strong enough to brave the Arctic. Today we celebrate International #PolarBearDay, a day founded to coincide with this critical time in the life of polar bear🐻‍❄️ Keeping moms and cubs safe while also addressing climate change is a critical part of protecting polar bear populations. The denning period is the most vulnerable time in a polar bear’s life. And in a warming Arctic, where polar bears face enormous challenges, the survival of every single cub is critically important. Sea ice loss due to climate change is impacting denning polar bears across the Arctic. In Svalbard, Norway—where sea ice loss is most dramatic—we are observing fewer maternal dens, as well as moms and cubs in poorer condition when they emerge from their dens. In addition, polar bear dens, which are hidden under the snow, are at risk from disturbances as human activity increases i...