Jennifer Bentley

Summary

                According to research done by researchers from Carleton University and Environment Canada Polar bears are wiping out seagull eggs due to climate change. Usually these Polar bears eat larger prey such as seals. They travel on ice to get out deeper into the ocean and then dive in and catch seals and eat them. Since the ice over the water has been melting the polar bears cannot go out far enough into the water to catch any seals. This has caused them for look for food on land. Most birds lay their eggs on rocks right off the shore, which is easy access for the polar bears. “Even a single polar bear can devastate all the eggs on a single island where birds such as common eiders nest.”(Steve Marson) This has made a big impact on a lot of birds and hundreds of eggs are being eaten ever day because of the climate change. The bears are even targeting nests that are higher up on cliffs by climbing to the nests and eating their way to the top.

Analysis

                This report is just showing one of the ways that weather change can affect more than just one species. It also brings awareness to the fact that the ice is melting at more rapid rates and polar bears are trying not to starve to death. In the meantime the bird population in those areas is going to have a substantial drop due to all of the eggs that the polar bears are eating. Sea birds have not been extremely affected by this all but if it continues, much like anything, it could cause more than one population to struggle. The temperatures rising in the Arctic has had a bigger impact than most would expect.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/climate-change-has-polar-bears-on-egg-diet-1.2527740