Polar Bear

The ursus maritimus, the largest bear in the world and the Arctic's top predator, they are a powerful symbol of the strength and endurance of the Arctic.

Polar bears rely heavily on sea ice for traveling, hunting, resting, mating and, in some areas, maternal dens. But because of ongoing and potential loss of their sea ice habitat resulting from climate change–the primary threat to polar bears Arctic-wide–polar bears were listed as a *threatened species* in the US under the Endangered Species Act in May 2008.

*Vulnerable*