Overview

• Researchers tracked polar bear mothers in Svalbard, Norway, combining GPS satellite collars and remote cameras to study denning behavior over nearly a decade.
• The study found polar bear families emerged from dens around March 9th, with some abandoning their dens earlier than previously recorded, potentially risking cub development and survival.
• Cubs were observed relying heavily on their mothers, venturing outside the den alone only 5% of the time, and staying near the den for an average of 12 days after emergence.
• Some mothers were seen relocating their cubs to new dens, a behavior documented through the study’s innovative tracking methods.
• The findings underscore the importance of protecting Arctic denning habitats as climate change and human activities increasingly threaten polar bear populations.