Sea ice loss appears to be harming certain bears more than others, and the impacts of climate change differ depending on where they occur. Polar Bears International (PBI) indicates that changes in polar bear physical condition, survival, and abundance have been connected to sea ice conditions.

For example, the number of polar bears in western Hudson Bay peaked at 1,200 in the 1980s but has since declined to 842. PBI reports that bear populations in Southern Hudson Bay have decreased by 17% since 2012 and that a longer ice-free season is also associated with better body conditions.