Polar Bear

Ursus maritimus

General Status Rank: 
Sensitive
ELCODE: 
AMAJB01030
Common Name: 
Polar Bear
Scientific Name: 
Ursus maritimus
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Taxonomy
Group: 
Mammal (Terrestrial Mammal)
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Chordata
Class: 
Mammalia
Order: 
Carnivora
Family: 
Ursidae
References: 
R020
General Biology

Female Age at Maturity

Females reach sexual maturity at 4–6 years and have litters of typically 1–2 cubs approximately every 3 years.
References: 
R166

Longevity

Up to 35 years in captivity (B001), estimated maximum of 19 years in wild (B113). Few polar bears live longer than 25 years (R166).
References: 
B001
B113
R166

Economic/Human Considerations

Tourism; good = big game resource under strict managed hunting; bad = garbage nuisance and potentially harmful.
References: 
B001
H111
Habitat
Arctic pack ice, generally less abundant in areas of extensive multi-year ice. Denning = on land.
References: 
R020
R166
R221
Distribution

Ecozones

Arctic Cordillera, Northern Arctic, Southern Arctic, Taiga Plains, Taiga Shield
References: 
B001

Distribution

1,467,985 km2
Score: 
G = 2
References: 
B113

Number of Occurrences

4 recognized in NWT (Southern Beaufort, Northern Beaufort, Viscount-Melville, Arctic Basin).
Score: 
A = 1
References: 
H110
H111
R166

Historical Distribution

Same as current
References: 
B113

Area of Occupancy

1,454,148 km2
Score: 
H = >
References: 
R166
R221
Population

Population Size

All subpopulations of polar bears in the NWT are shared with Alaska or Nunavut; within the borders of the NWT the number of polar bears is likely to be somewhere around 1,500–2,000 bears. Assuming 62% of these individuals are aged 5+ (from age-sex ratios for the Southern Beaufort Sea), it is estimated that 930–1,240 mature individuals live, at any given time, in the NWT. It is difficult to identify exact numbers of individuals occurring within NWT borders as population inventories are conducted across international and territorial boundaries.
Score: 
CD =
References: 
R221
Trends

Trends

Likely declining in Southern Beaufort (shared with Alaska). Stable or possibly increasing in Northern Beaufort, possibly increasing in Viscount Melville (shared with Nunavut) but trends are uncertain.
Score: 
F = 1
References: 
R166
R221
Threats

Threats

Climate change - sea ice changes, potential over-harvesting in some areas, oil spills, problem kills, contaminants.
Score: 
BC =
References: 
R166
R221

Intrinsic Vulnerability

Sea ice reduction, human disturbance, oil spills, development (oil-gas), shipping.
Score: 
-
References: 
R166
R221
General Status Rank
Rank: 
Sensitive
S Rank: 
S3S4
Decision Process Description: 
Reviewed in 2005 - no change in status. Reviewed in 2010, no change. Reviewed in 2015, no change. Reviewed in 2020, no change.
Last Updated: 
February 15, 2024
Status Designations

NWT - Assessment by Species at Risk Committee

NWT SARC Assessment: 
Special Concern
2012
References: 
R221

NWT - Species at Risk Legal Status

NWT Status Rank: 
Special Concern
Special Concern - 2014

Canada – Assessment by Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada

COSEWIC Status: 
Special Concern
Designated Not at Risk in April 1986. Status re-examined and designated Special Concern in April 1991. Status re-examined and confirmed in April 1999, November 2002, and April 2008. (COSEWIC. 2008. COSEWIC assessment and update status report on the polar bear Ursus maritimus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, Ottawa. vii + 75 pp.)
References: 
R020
R176

Canada – Species at Risk Legal Status

SARA Status: 
Special Concern
2011
References: 
W103

References

Age Of Maturity

  • COSEWIC (2008) Update COSEWIC Status Report on the Polar Bear Ursus maritimus prepared for COMMITTEE ON THE STATUS OF ENDANGERED WILDLIFE IN Canada. COSEWIC Meeting Spring 2008 - Imterim version - Philip D. McLoughlin1, Mitch Taylor2, and Martha Dowsley3 copies in ENR offices - R166 Return

Area of Occupancy

  • COSEWIC (2008) Update COSEWIC Status Report on the Polar Bear Ursus maritimus prepared for COMMITTEE ON THE STATUS OF ENDANGERED WILDLIFE IN Canada. COSEWIC Meeting Spring 2008 - Imterim version - Philip D. McLoughlin1, Mitch Taylor2, and Martha Dowsley3 copies in ENR offices - R166 Return
  • SARC (2012) Species status assessment on Polar bear in the NWT. http://nwtspeciesatrisk.ca/tiki/tiki-index.php - R221 Return
COSEWIC Status
  • Stirling I and Taylor MK (1997) Status report on the polar bear Ursus maritimus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R020 Return
  • COSEWIC (2008) Update COSEWIC Status Report on the Polar Bear Ursus maritimus. - R176 Return

Economic Status

  • Banfield AWF (1974) The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press RWED Library Call #QL721.B3 - B001 Return
  • Veitch A (1999) Personal Communication. Supervisor, Wildlife Management, RWED, Norman Wells - H111 Return

Ecozones

  • Banfield AWF (1974) The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press RWED Library Call #QL721.B3 - B001 Return

Federal Species at Risk Status

  • Government of Canada (2016) Species at Risk Public Registry. http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/default_e.cfm - W103 Return

Habitat

  • Stirling I and Taylor MK (1997) Status report on the polar bear Ursus maritimus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R020 Return
  • COSEWIC (2008) Update COSEWIC Status Report on the Polar Bear Ursus maritimus prepared for COMMITTEE ON THE STATUS OF ENDANGERED WILDLIFE IN Canada. COSEWIC Meeting Spring 2008 - Imterim version - Philip D. McLoughlin1, Mitch Taylor2, and Martha Dowsley3 copies in ENR offices - R166 Return
  • SARC (2012) Species status assessment on Polar bear in the NWT. http://nwtspeciesatrisk.ca/tiki/tiki-index.php - R221 Return

Historical Distribution

  • Novak M et al.(editors) (1987) Wild Furbearer Management and Conservation in North America. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources RWED Library Call #SK355.W5 - B113 Return

Intrinsic Vulnerability

  • COSEWIC (2008) Update COSEWIC Status Report on the Polar Bear Ursus maritimus prepared for COMMITTEE ON THE STATUS OF ENDANGERED WILDLIFE IN Canada. COSEWIC Meeting Spring 2008 - Imterim version - Philip D. McLoughlin1, Mitch Taylor2, and Martha Dowsley3 copies in ENR offices - R166 Return
  • SARC (2012) Species status assessment on Polar bear in the NWT. http://nwtspeciesatrisk.ca/tiki/tiki-index.php - R221 Return

Longevity

  • Banfield AWF (1974) The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press RWED Library Call #QL721.B3 - B001 Return
  • Novak M et al.(editors) (1987) Wild Furbearer Management and Conservation in North America. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources RWED Library Call #SK355.W5 - B113 Return
  • COSEWIC (2008) Update COSEWIC Status Report on the Polar Bear Ursus maritimus prepared for COMMITTEE ON THE STATUS OF ENDANGERED WILDLIFE IN Canada. COSEWIC Meeting Spring 2008 - Imterim version - Philip D. McLoughlin1, Mitch Taylor2, and Martha Dowsley3 copies in ENR offices - R166 Return

NWT Known Subspecies

Stirling I and Taylor MK (1997) Status report on the polar bear Ursus maritimus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R020 Return

Number of Occurrences

  • Nagy J (1999) Personal Communication. Supervisor, Wildlife Management, RWED, Inuvik - H110 Return
  • Veitch A (1999) Personal Communication. Supervisor, Wildlife Management, RWED, Norman Wells - H111 Return
  • COSEWIC (2008) Update COSEWIC Status Report on the Polar Bear Ursus maritimus prepared for COMMITTEE ON THE STATUS OF ENDANGERED WILDLIFE IN Canada. COSEWIC Meeting Spring 2008 - Imterim version - Philip D. McLoughlin1, Mitch Taylor2, and Martha Dowsley3 copies in ENR offices - R166 Return

NWT SARC Assessment

  • SARC (2012) Species status assessment on Polar bear in the NWT. http://nwtspeciesatrisk.ca/tiki/tiki-index.php - R221 Return

Population Size

SARC (2012) Species status assessment on Polar bear in the NWT. http://nwtspeciesatrisk.ca/tiki/tiki-index.php - R221 Return

Range Extent

  • Novak M et al.(editors) (1987) Wild Furbearer Management and Conservation in North America. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources RWED Library Call #SK355.W5 - B113 Return

Short Term Trends

  • COSEWIC (2008) Update COSEWIC Status Report on the Polar Bear Ursus maritimus prepared for COMMITTEE ON THE STATUS OF ENDANGERED WILDLIFE IN Canada. COSEWIC Meeting Spring 2008 - Imterim version - Philip D. McLoughlin1, Mitch Taylor2, and Martha Dowsley3 copies in ENR offices - R166 Return
  • SARC (2012) Species status assessment on Polar bear in the NWT. http://nwtspeciesatrisk.ca/tiki/tiki-index.php - R221 Return

Taxonomy

  • Stirling I and Taylor MK (1997) Status report on the polar bear Ursus maritimus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R020 Return

Threats

  • COSEWIC (2008) Update COSEWIC Status Report on the Polar Bear Ursus maritimus prepared for COMMITTEE ON THE STATUS OF ENDANGERED WILDLIFE IN Canada. COSEWIC Meeting Spring 2008 - Imterim version - Philip D. McLoughlin1, Mitch Taylor2, and Martha Dowsley3 copies in ENR offices - R166 Return
  • SARC (2012) Species status assessment on Polar bear in the NWT. http://nwtspeciesatrisk.ca/tiki/tiki-index.php - R221 Return