Stranded polar bear, Barter Island, Alaska.
As the Arctic sea ice retreats, over 700 miles from the shore, bears must either head north or swim south to land, as the ice breaks up.
Scientists are using the DNA from hair samples to determine which bears show up, and for how long. This information can help wildlife managers minimize human-bear conflicts, and understand how the animals are faring as climate change reduces the amount of time they can spend on the sea ice hunting their preferred prey, seals, and if they are changing their behavior to adapt to the declining sea ice.