What Can We Do To Change It?

I have thirteen – count ’em, THIRTEEN – pets.

Now, granted: ten of those pets are fish, but still. Thirteen pets, by any standard, are a lot. So perhaps when I introduce myself I should say, “hi, my name is Katherine and I’m an animal lover.”

I don’t really mean to joke about it, because I do take my role as pet owner very seriously. My daughters and I invest a lot of time and care into our pets, and it’s not just our own domesticated animals that we care about. Each year we invest money over the holidays to support animals in the wild; animals who are often more in need of care and protection than domestic pets.

We have sponsored many animals over time, from abandoned bunnies turned feral (a surprisingly common problem in many communities) to bobcats and grizzly bears. Up until now, we’ve focused much of our time and money on animals in the Rocky Mountain parks, because as Calgarians, that’s what’s close to home for us.

But this year, I’m turning my attention north.

It all started last summer when I heard a report on CBC Radio’s The Current about the plight of the polar bear in Canada’s Arctic. Since then, that iconic Canadian bear has been padding its way through my consciousness more and more. Both my girls are big fans of these white giants, and each owns at least one polar bear stuffy, so when I started getting more and more interested in their situation, it seemed a natural fit for our family.

A female Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) with her two young cubs in the snow near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. © David Jenkins / WWF-Canada

So my girls and I have been doing a little research on these amazing creatures. Did you know that 2/3 of the world’s polar bear population lives right here in Canada?  Of the 19 sub-populations of polar bears, 13 are found within or shared by Canada. And of those 19 sub-populations, 5 have been clearly shown to be declining. By far the biggest threat to the Arctic home of the polar bear is that as climate changes it continues to affect the fragile Arctic environment.

By now, it’s an accepted fact that the polar ice caps are shrinking. And because polar bears rely on the ice for their habitat and their prey, the polar ice caps support the entire Arctic ecosystem, of which the polar bears are an apex predator. In their place at the top of the food chain, they are the most vulnerable to any changes to their environment.

Now, personally, I prefer not to dwell on the big problems: instead, I’d rather search for ways in which I can make a change for the better, however small that change might be. So the next step in my thinking is always going to be: what can we do to change it?

Well, we’re making changes in our lives to help reduce our carbon footprint. That’s all to the good. Anything we can do at home to reduce carbon emissions is going to help the state of the polar bear habitat on the Arctic ice, because the major cause of polar ice reduction is global warming. But we’re also going to put our money where our mouths are. By supporting organizations like the World Wildlife Fund, we can contribute to real solutions.

WWF works with stakeholders to protect critical polar bear habitat throughout the Arctic. This includes Inuit communities and governments to reduce human-wildlife conflicts and work towards sustainable development opportunities. It’s important to note that WWF supports traditional sustainable harvest by Inuit peoples. In addition, they will help to draft and spearhead management solutions that address the major threats of climate change and industrialization of the Arctic.

A female Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) with her two young cubs in the snow near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. © David Jenkins / WWF-Canada

For my family, it’s important that we share some of our plenty with the other species that we share this planet with. As the holidays approach, we often think about what gifts to give friends and loved ones, especially those who seem to have everything.  In my mind, adopting a polar bear with WWF is a perfect answer to that question. It’s affordable, it’s environmentally responsible, and it’s tax-deductible. What more could you ask for?

To find out how you can adopt a polar bear visit for a loved one visit: wwf.ca/store.

This Blog post is sponsored.  Some information was provided by WWF.
All content is true, based on Katherine’s personal experience.