Polar bears asleep in Canada

© David Pike/Minden Picture

A warm hug in the icy North. International Polar Bear Day

February 27 marks International Polar Bear Day—an effort to raise awareness of the enormous threats polar bears face due to climate change. Polar bears need Arctic pack ice to hunt on, but that ice is shrinking as the planet warms. While polar bears are excellent swimmers—so much so that they're classified as marine mammals—the Arctic ice is still a crucial part of their survival. Let's take this day to think about what we can do to help reduce climate change and protect polar bear habitats.