Polar Bear Week is observed during the first week of November each year (for 2025: November 2 – 8) and offers a chance to reflect on the lives of polar bears and the fragile Arctic environment on which they depend. The week coincides with the annual gathering of polar bears near the shores of Hudson Bay in northern Canada, where they await the return of sea ice so they can resume hunting. It’s a moment that highlights the delicate balance between wildlife and climate, and how changes in the far north are a signal for the planet as a whole. 1
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History of Polar Bear Week
The concept for Polar Bear Week was created by the conservation organisation Polar Bears International to align with the moment in autumn when polar bears congregate near the shores of Hudson Bay, Canada, awaiting the re‑formation of sea ice which allows them to hunt seals again.
Over time the week has grown into a global awareness‑effort: it is used to highlight how climate change, shrinking sea ice, and increased encounters between humans and polar bears are presenting new challenges for these animals. The week’s timing in early November is deliberate, capturing a key moment in the bears’ seasonal cycle.
Why is Polar Bear Week important?
Polar Bear Week invites people to pause and consider how one species’ survival is deeply entwined with the vast Arctic environment—a realm that many of us never see yet that affects global climate, sea levels, and ecosystems. It reminds us that when ice melts sooner, when seasons shift, the ripple effect is felt through everything from bear fat reserves to human communities.
It also offers a moment of humility: the image of a powerful, solitary polar bear waiting on land because the ice is late brings into sharp relief our human role in shaping climate and habitat. The week is not simply for admiration of a majestic creature—it is a call to attention, to stewardship, and to questions about how we share this planet.
- It shows how changes far away can affect beings we may never meet
- It underlines that even apex predators are vulnerable to environmental shifts
- It helps connect individual lifestyle choices to global issues
- It creates a bridge between wildlife conservation and climate action
- It invites curiosity—about polar bears, but also about why ice and cold matter to all of us
How to Observe Polar Bear Week
Observing Polar Bear Week can be both practical and meaningful. You might start by watching online livestreams of polar bears near Hudson Bay, noticing their behaviour and what they’re waiting for. Use that viewing as the spark for reflection: what does delayed ice mean, what does gathering onshore imply? Consider reducing your own carbon footprint in a light but deliberate way—choose one small action this week that you’ll maintain.
You could also use the week as a reason to talk with friends, classmates or colleagues about polar bears and Arctic change. Maybe share a fact, organise a small educational moment, or plan a charity support for organisations working in polar bear conservation. In that way, the week becomes both awareness and action.
- Tune in to a polar bear cam and take note of what you observe
- Choose one habit to adjust this week (e.g., lowering thermostat, reducing drive time)
- Share a photo or fact about polar bears with someone and spark a conversation
- Support a conservation organisation or donate what you would spend on a treat
- Read up on how polar bears live, hunt, and why sea ice matters—and let that inform your choices
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