Polar bear (Ursus maritimus)

Polar Bear (Photo: Ian Stirling)

Alaska is home to two discrete stocks of polar bears: the western or Chukchi/Bering Seas stock, shared with Russia, and the southern Beaufort Sea stock, shared with Canada. In addition, there are several other stocks that occur throughout the Arctic in Canada, Greenland, Norway, and Russia. Polar bears can traverse vast territories, often crossing over borders and into international waters. The southern Beaufort Sea stock numbers about 1,800 animals. Although an accurate estimate of the size of the Chukchi/Bering Seas stock is not currently available, U.S. officials charged with polar bear conservation are using a figure of 2,000 to 5,000 animals as their best estimate. Worldwide polar bear numbers have been estimated at 21,000 to 28,000 animals.

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