Tracking Polar Bears by Satellite

Check back monthly for up-to-date movements of the satellite-tagged polar bears

Movements of 10 satellite-collared adult female polar bears for the month of January, 2010. Bears were collared in 2007, 2008, and 2009 on the spring-time sea ice of the southern Beaufort Sea or on the autumn pack ice in 2009. Polar bear satellite telemetry data are shown with AMSR-E remotely-sensed ice coverage for 31 January, 2010. AMSR-E data are made available by the University of Bremen (http://iup.physik.uni-bremen.de:8084/amsr/amsre.html). The land cover is made available by Natural Earth (http://www.naturalearthdata.com/). Click on the above image for a larger view.

The USGS Alaska Science Center uses the latest technology in satellite radio-tracking to fill key information gaps on how polar bears use both the sea ice and land. Adult female polar bears are captured, fitted with satellite telemetry collars, and followed throughout their annual range. In collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service we are also experimenting with glue-on and ear tag satellite transmitters, which can be deployed on adult male bears and younger, still-growing bears.

USGS research focuses on understanding habitat relationships of polar bears and developing predictive models of seasonal polar bear distribution relative to sea ice extent and composition (Durner et al. 2009). This knowledge of habitat relationships is used to explain the effects of sea ice on polar bear health (Rode et al. in press) and trends in polar bear populations (Amstrup et al. 2008, Regehr et al. 2009). As polar bears in the southern Beaufort Sea are increasingly using land in the summer (Schleibe et al. 2008), we are also working to define their land-habitat relationships. We also use satellite telemetry data to study maternal denning and how the distribution of maternal denning may be changing (Durner et al. 2006, Fischbach et al. 2007). USGS science provides information to resources managers so that they may make informed decisions on the conservation of polar bears.

Primary funding for this USGS research is provided by the USGS Global Climate Change Program. Additional support is provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Minerals Management Service, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the World Wildlife Fund, Polar Bears International, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.