The Service Seeks Your Comments

Comments are being accepted until April 9, 2007, on the Service's Proposed Rule to list the polar bear as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. This information will be vital to the ultimate decision on whether the species should be listed. Comments may be hand delivered, submitted by regular mail, email, or in person at a public hearing. Background information on the polar bear and details about how to submit hand delivered, regular mail, and email comment are found in the Twelve Month Finding and Proposed Rule (pdf)

The Service is particularly seeking comments concerning these items listed in the Federal Register Proposed Rule:

1. Information on taxonomy, distribution, habitat selection (especially denning habitat), food habits, population density and trends, habitat trends, and effects of management on polar bears;
2. Information on the effects of sea ice change on the distribution and abundance of polar bears and their principal prey over the short- and long-term;
3. Information on the effects of other potential listing factors, including oil and gas development, contaminants, ecotourism, hunting, poaching, on the distribution and abundance of polar bears and their principal prey over the short and long term;
4. Information on regulatory mechanisms and management programs for polar bear conservation, including mitigation measures related to oil and gas exploration and development, hunting conservation programs, anti-poaching programs, and any other private, tribal, or governmental conservation programs which benefit polar bears;
5. The specific physical and biological features to consider, and specific areas that may meet the definition of critical habitat and that should or should not be considered for a proposed critical habitat designation as provided by section 4 of the Act;
6. Information relevant to whether any populations of the species may qualify as distinct population segments; and,
7. The data and studies referred to within the proposal.

• Polar Bears and the Endangered Species Act (pdf)
• Polar Bear Fact Sheet (pdf)
• Polar Bear Questions and Answers (pdf)
• Federal Register Notice for the Polar Bear (pdf)
• Participating in the Polar Bear Public Hearing (pdf)

If you have questions, call us at 1-800-362-5148.