Photograph by @paulnicklen // Polar bears do mock battle in the fall on the frozen sea ice. Sea ice is crucial to the survival of polar bears. There are areas in the Arctic where sea ice melts much earlier each spring and freezes much later in the fall leaving some places void of ice for up to 26 weeks a year. What will be the effects on these polar bear populations that cannot hunt without ice as a platform? Last year, on a sea_legacy climate change expedition, we found two polar bears in an ice free area that had died of starvation. This was a place that traditionally had a lot of sea ice. We are seeing the effects already. This week, I am going to be posting a lot bear pictures on @paulnicklen as part of a cool project in Alaska so feel free to #follow me. #nature #gratitude #wildlife #bears #polarbears #climatechange #wildlife by natgeo http://ift.tt/1gFzJU2 – Gatlinburg Garden Castle Rainbow Tower Library Imagination Station Temple Water Spirit Guardian Labyrinth Treasury Magic Healing