By Emmy McKirgan

He stands 8 feet tall. He’s proud and majestic! He is a formidable force to be reckoned with! Will you draw near? Do you dare? This magnificent creature has become endangered, and we need to act now to change his tomorrow.

Some facts about polar bears!

• About 60% of polar bears live in Canada
• An adult male bear is 6 to 10 feet tall
• Polar Bears have 3 eyelids – the third set protects them from the elements
• They have translucent fur that appears white, but under their fur their skin is black
• They have blue tongues
• Polar bears have less time on ice to hunt seals due to the sea ice melting earlier and returning later. This impacts the bears negatively, resulting in thinner bears, reduced cub survival, and a decrease in the polar bear population.

What’s February 27th all about, anyway?

February 27, has been deemed International Polar Bear Day by Polar Bears International .The group raises awareness on the issues facing polar bears and how we can reduce our carbon footprint. The site has informative and fun things to check out. You can use this site to teach your kids facts about bears. For instance; you can track a polar bear’s roaming patterns, as he hunts for seals, you can see how far the bear has walked, you can see how much he weighs. It’s an interactive way to learn more about polar bears. Bonus: you can also find out if she has cubs! Click here.

Adopt a bear? Why yes, please.

World Wildlife Fund Canada is the country’s largest international conservation organization. WWF- Canada is part of the WWF global network, working in 100 countries worldwide. WWF protects animals and provides resources to maintain their habitats. For Christmas this year , I received an adoption certificate and adorable plush pandas from WWF. I was delighted I felt like in some small way I was helping the bear live a better life. You can adopt a polar bear here!

Do you have an animal lover in your life? You can donate on their behalf to one of these funds. It’s a great way to show them you love them, and at the same time, positively effect the environment for the polar bear.

We are so fortunate to have these majestic creatures’ living in our backyard’. We need to do what we can to protect them and their habitat. Donate today! Do your part to keep polar bears from dwindling further due to people and businesses disturbing their dens during the hibernation period. Reach out to your MLA, stop climate change and do your part to reestablish the bear population. Act today!