This photo shows the rear paws of a polar bear temporarily sedated for research in East Greenland in 2022. The bear has large chunks of ice frozen onto its feet, which the researchers removed.

Population assessments have revealed that polar bears in Greenland are suffering from crippling wounds on their paws due to wet snow that gets stuck to the pads and freezes into blocks.

"As strange as it sounds, with climate warming there are more frequent freeze-thaw cycles with more wet snow, and this leads to ice buildup on polar bears' paws." Between 2012 and 2022, Laidre and ...

“As strange as it sounds, with climate warming there are more frequent freeze-thaw cycles with more wet snow, and this leads to ice buildup on polar bears’ paws.” Between 2012 and 2022, Laidre and ...

Polar bears are developing horrific wounds on their paws due to changing ice conditions in the Arctic, a new study reports.

"As strange as it sounds, with climate warming there are more frequent freeze-thaw cycles with more wet snow, and this leads to ice buildup on polar bears' paws." Between 2012 and 2022, Laidre and ...