"Polar bears dying at a rapid rate near Canada's "Polar Bear Capital" as Arctic sea ice disappears"
"Polar bears in Canada's Western Hudson Bay — on the southern edge of the Arctic — are continuing to die in high numbers, a new government survey of the land carnivore has found. Females and bear cubs are having an especially hard time. Researchers surveyed Western Hudson Bay — home to Churchill, the town called "the Polar Bear Capital of the World" — by air in 2021 and estimated there were 618 bears, compared to the 842 in 2016, when they were last surveyed. "The actual decline is a lot larger than I would have expected," said Andrew Derocher, a biology professor at the University of Alberta who has studied Hudson Bay polar bears for nearly four decades. Derocher was not involved in the study.Since the 1980s, the number of bears in the region has fallen by nearly 50%, the authors found. The ice essential to their survival is disappearing."

Global Sea Ice - Lowest on Record
According to climate researcher Zach Labe, The Global Sea Ice as of early February is sitting at its lowest extent on record.

Arctic Sea Ice - 3rd Lowest on Record
Zach Labe suggests that the Arctic Sea Ice was at its 3rd lowest extent as of February 3rd.

Great Lakes Ice Coverage - 11th Lowest on Record
According to NOAA's GLERL, the ice coverage across the Great Lakes is at its 9th lowest extent as of early February. Last year at this time, there was nearly 23% ice coverage, while the longer-term average is around 31% to 32%.


Great Lakes Average Ice Coverage
The graph below shows the current Great Lakes ice coverage compared to the long term average (1973-2022). As of early February, the Great Lakes basin was sitting around 11%-12%, which is well below the long term average of 31%-32%. The peak ice coverage typically occurs late February into early March.