Den Emergence Study

Why it Matters

Polar bears are born blind, and fewer than half of all cubs may reach adulthood. Aiming to understand this critical time for polar bear families, we worked with partners to deploy remote camera traps near known maternal dens in Svalbard, Norway, over nearly a decade. 

As industry expands in the Arctic, the study highlights the importance of undisturbed denning areas to protect polar bear populations. 

The research provides critical insights into a critical period for the survival of polar bear cubs and underscores the urgent need to protect denning habitats.

The Impact

The rare footage and analysis by Dr. Louise Archer provides new insights into den emergence timing, maternal care, and the impacts of climate change on cub survival. 

The study marks the first combination of satellite tracking collars with remote camera traps to answer questions about polar bear denning, which is notoriously difficult to study as polar bear moms build their dens under the snow in remote areas. The researchers present new insights into the timing of den emergence and post-emergence behaviors alongside new tools to monitor polar bear dens across the Arctic. 

Project Partners

Norwegian Polar Institute and the San Diego Zoo and Wildlife Association