Polar bears are adapted to life on the sea ice in the Arctic and depend on it for survival. Sea ice is their primary platform for hunting, mating, and traveling. They use the ice to reach their prey, which are mainly seals, and to rest between hunting trips.

Polar bears are one of the species most affected by climate change. The primary reason is that their habitat, sea ice, is rapidly declining due to rising global temperatures. As the sea ice melts, it becomes more difficult for polar bears to hunt for their primary food source, seals, and as a result, their populations are declining.