December 2025 Arctic Sea Ice Update with Chief Climate Scientist Dr. Flavio Lehner

December 2025 Arctic Sea Ice Update with Chief Climate Scientist Dr. Flavio Lehner

This year in Hudson Bay, especially Western Hudson Bay, saw a very late sea-ice freeze up. In fact, it was the second latest freeze up in the satellite record, which goes back to 1979. With the frozen sea ice extent expanding more rapidly the last few weeks, the bears are back on the sea ice and hopefully able to hunt again (except for some soon-to-be moms tucked in their maternal dens). Learn more about this season’s freeze up from our chief climate scientist, Dr. Flavio Lehner, in the video above, and find more information in the article: https://pbears.org/4qr4AHm Background: Every year we track when sea ice melts and reforms on Hudson Bay, as the polar bears in the region are forced on land during the ice-free season and away from their main prey, seals. During this time on land, the bears are largely fasting and lose an average of 1kg (2.2 lbs) per day. Connect with Polar Bears International Get the latest polar bear news: https://pbears.org/newsletter Support our work: https://pbears.org/donate