Arctic Stories

US failing to meet Arctic protection goals
Though the US government is meeting some of its commitments in the Arctic, not enough is being done and, in many instances, the government is backsliding, according to a new analysis.
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Alaska Resilient and Rising
A close look at the coastline reveals thawing permafrost oozing over the snow along the Chukchi Sea. The Arctic is warming twice as fast—and quite possibly faster—than any other place on the planet.
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Imperiled polar bears face new threat in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
In some areas of the Arctic, female polar bears are more frequently choosing to build their maternity dens on land, rather than sea ice. The land provides the stability and security that sea ice no longer can—at least until human activity comes into the picture.
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WWF's Elisabeth Kruger on polar bears, climate change, and indigenous communities
WWF Magazine: Winter 2018Kruger leads WWF’s efforts to help polar bears and other Arctic marine mammals coexist alongside people in an increasingly warmer and ice-free Arctic. -
Climate change puts the Pacific Walrus population on thin ice
June 28, 2018Throughout the Arctic, melting sea ice is causing Pacific walruses to "haul out" on land in massive groups. To minimize deadly disturbances and minimize human-polar bear conflict, WWF is establishing artificial feeding spots on polar bear routes along the coast of Russia's Chukchi Sea.
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Why we must help Bristol Bay now
April 02, 2018Bristol Bay, Alaska is one of the most productive marine ecosystems in the world and the source of the world's largest wild salmon fishery. Yet its future is in jeopardy from the proposal for Pebble Mine. Now the US Army Corps of Engineers is attempting to fast track the mine's permit application and we must take action now.
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Lack of winter sea ice disrupts life in the Arctic
March 23, 2018It’s the second-worst winter for sea ice in the Arctic. As this rapid warming trend continues, entire ecosystems are unraveling and the consequences are impacting daily life in the Arctic as well as life in coastal communities thousands of miles away.
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One Arctic town's very busy polar bear patrol
February 26, 2018In 2007, nine polar bear conflicts were registered in all of Greenland. By 2017, there were 21 conflicts between August and December in the village of Ittoqqortoormiit alone. In almost all of the 21 cases, the local polar bear patrol was called to ensure that the bears were scared away from the community and kept under observation.
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3 things you should know about January’s record-low Arctic sea ice
February 22, 2018January 2018 brought record-low sea ice cover to the Arctic, according to new data released by the US government. That’s bad news for the ocean, wildlife, and local communities that rely on both for survival.
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How would offshore oil and gas drilling in the Arctic impact wildlife?
The Trump administration called for the removal of crucial Arctic protections in a new draft proposal of where oil and gas companies can purchase leases for offshore drilling. Take a look at how a handful of the Arctic’s abundant wildlife would be impacted by offshore drilling and a potential oil spill in the Arctic.
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A young walrus strays from his herd—and swims close to a photographer
WWF Magazine: Spring 2018In May 2014, a young male walrus arrived at a remote island near where photographer Audun Rickarden lives in Tromsø, in northern Norway. Thus began the strangest wildlife interaction he's ever had. -
Trump Administration to roll back crucial Arctic protections
January 05, 2018The Arctic Ocean—the pristine home to bowhead whales, gray whales, polar bears, walruses, and other magnificent wildlife, along with many indigenous communities—could potentially lose crucial protections from risky offshore oil and gas drilling.
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What is a walrus haulout and what does it mean for the planet?
As thousands of walrus come ashore, they congregate in large groups known as “haulouts.” These mass gatherings are dangerous and even deadly for the animals.
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Why is Bristol Bay important for salmon? And seven other Bristol Bay facts
Alaska’s Bristol Bay is a sprawling watershed of winding streams and rivers, vast wetlands and tundra, forests of alder and spruce, and home to a variety of fish, birds and terrestrial animals. Learn more about this incredible place that WWF is working hard to save.
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America’s Arctic could soon open up to a new wave of risky offshore oil and gas drilling
July 20, 2017Every five years, the US determines where oil and gas companies can purchase leases for offshore drilling. The most recent plan excluded the Arctic, but the Trump administration wants to change that.
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Video reveals how narhwals use their tusks
May 12, 2017New footage shows how narwhals use their tusks to hunt and stun fish before eating them.
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5 reasons why America's Arctic should remain off-limits to new drilling for oil and gas
Most of the Arctic’s federal waters are off limits to thanks to protections put in place in 2016. But the Trump administration and some in Congress want to allow fossil fuel companies to begin bidding for a chance to drill.
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Arctic ice in trouble
WWF Magazine: Summer 2017The receding sea ice at the North Pole threatens arctic species -
Walrus habitat on the edge
WWF Magazine: Summer 2017In what has become the new normal over the past 10 years, residents of the Inupiat village of Point Lay on the coast of the Chukchi Sea in Alaska have had new neighbors each fall. -
A Changing Arctic
WWF Magazine: Summer 2017What climate change and receding sea ices mean for the people, wildlife, economy, and politics of the far North. -
WWF digs a safe home for endangered freshwater seals
January 24, 2017An endangered population of freshwater seals in Finland recently received a lifeline from volunteers in the form of human-made snowbanks.
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US government releases a new plan to protect polar bears
January 09, 2017The Polar Bear Conservation Management Plan, which focuses on actions for the two U.S. subpopulations in Alaska, stresses the importance of climate change mitigation in curbing the loss of the polar bear’s sea ice habitat.
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US permanently protects some of the Arctic's most important marine areas
December 20, 2016Just one week after scientists warned of unprecedented change brought on by warming in the Arctic, President Obama announced permanent protection for 115 million acres of federal waters in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas. Including previous presidential withdrawals, today's action protects nearly 125 million acres in the offshore Arctic from future oil and gas activity.
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Report warns of unprecedented struggles in a warming Arctic
December 13, 2016The Arctic is seeing unprecedented declines in sea ice and snow cover triggered by abnormally warm temperatures, according to a new report, the Arctic Report Card, released by the US government.
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Record low sea ice impacts polar bears
December 07, 2016As the planet warms, we’re seeing a startling loss of Arctic sea ice. This is a major concern when it comes to wildlife conservation—particularly for polar bears. Dr. Klenzendorf shares her experience observing polar bears in Churchill.