This Issue:

Table of Contents

Cover Story

Grades 2-3

Feeling the Heat

Polar bears live on sea ice above the Arctic Circle. About 20,000 polar bears can be found on Earth. Nearly 5,000 live in Alaskan waters.

Nature has prepared them for harsh conditions. But nothing could prepare them for a new danger that they face.

The polar bears' world is melting. Studies show that polar ice is shrinking. Scientists blame global warming. They say that certain kinds of air pollution are quickly making the world too warm.

A Big Bear Problem
Two weeks ago, the U.S. government said it was taking steps to list the polar bear as a threatened species. That would help protect the bears.

Polar bears depend on sea ice for their survival. The ice is where they hunt seals, their main source of food.

Some melting and refreezing of polar ice is natural. But in a warmer world, this process speeds up. The bears have less time to hunt for food. Many have been found in poor health. The number of bears is falling.

If the government decides to list the bears as threatened, it will make a plan and strict rules to protect them. "Polar bears are nature's ultimate survivors," says Dirk Kempthorne, a lawmaker involved in the decision. With help from humans, these special creatures can bounce back.

The Bear Facts

Big Male bears can grow to be 11 feet tall. Some weigh as much as 1,400 pounds.

Tough The bear is built for Arctic temperatures. Two layers of fur keep it warm.

King of the ice The polar bear has no natural predators.

Next: A Sad Good-bye