5 COOL WAYS TO CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL POLAR BEAR DAY - FEBRUARY 27TH

Only 20,000 to 25,000 polar bears remain, and scientists estimate that two-thirds of those will be gone by 2050. Here is what you can do to help!

1. Learn more

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Polar bears were listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act in 2008. Without intervention, the situation is likely to become more dire. Sea ice is vital to polar bears because they travel across it to reach their prey. When sea ice melts, polar bears must swim increasingly long distances from shore to reach the ice to hunt. When the distance is too far, polar bears drown.

In areas which have less ice than in the past, polar bears must spend summer months on shore. As a result, they must fast for months. This leaves the bears with fewer fat deposits to make it through the winter.  In poor health, the bears also have fewer cubs, and cubs frequently don't survive to adulthood.

2. Reduce, reuse, recycle

Town of Tiverton, RI / Via tiverton.ri.gov

Reduce your carbon footprint for a day, conserving natural resources. Could making the effort to recycle for one day possibly matter? Well, what if everyone in the US decided to recycle one extra item today? That would be 300 million fewer items reaching a landfill. And if everyone in the world participated? The possibilities are amazing!

And guess what – it just might feel so good you may keep it up all year long.

3. Become a Polar Ambassador

Polar Ambassadors, Inc. / Via polarambassadors.com

Polar Ambassadors offers apparel for men, women, and children that inspires the conversation around conservation. And 10% of all profits are donated to organizations that protect polar bears and the ice on which they depend. Look good and feel good! Find out more about the mission at: www.polarambassadors.com

4. Adjust your thermostat

Via blogs.plos.org

Turn down the heat a few degrees and embrace coziness in honor of the polar bears. Grab a comfortable sweater, sip a hot cocoa or coffee, or bundle up for a walk in the snow.

5. Talk about it

Polar Bears International / Via polarbearsinternational.org

Discuss, chat, tweet, and post. Spread the word to family and friends. Reach out to your local, state, and federal representatives to let them know that saving the polar bears is important.