Polar bear predation on ringed seals in the fast-ice of Hornsund, Svalbard

Abstract

Polar bear hunting success on ringed seals in subnivean lairs and basking on the fast ice, was studied in Hornsund, Svalbard. A few bears were observed while actually hunting, but in most cases bear tracks were followed by snowmobile to determine the outcome of hunts. Seal carcasses were classified from size and tooth annuli as pups, juveniles or adults. A total of 62 subnivean structures were entered by bears, with six scals killed. One of ten charges on basking seals resulted in a kill. Success rates of bears in Hornsund arc compared with rcsults of studies in Canada and Svalbard. Hunting success, polar bear. predation, ringed seul.