Since February 16, 2005 the polar bears have been listed as a threatened species on the Endangered Species Act. Polar bears, the world’s largest non-aquatic carnivores, stand to become the first mammals in the world to lose 100 percent of their habitat to global warming.

The polar bears are dependent on sea ice because they use it to hunt for seals, which periodically pop up through breathing holes in the ice.

Artic ice is melting much faster than scientists had believed. Actually, the ice is breaking up 2 ½ weeks earlier than it did 30 years ago. As a result of this change in their environment, the female polar bears weigh 55 pounds less than they did then. The female polar bears could become so thin by 2012 they may no longer be able to reproduce.