News Animals

Polar bears provide millions of kilograms of food for other Arctic species

Scavengers could lose an important food source as polar bear populations decline

A polar bear stands over a dead seal with two seagulls standing nearby.

A polar bear in Norway picks at its prey. Gulls nearby and other animals will eat the leftovers. Polar bears typically leave about 30 percent of edible animal’s remains.

David Merron Photography/Moment/Getty Images Plus

By Gennaro Tomma

Read another version of this article at Science News Explores

In a single year, one polar bear can leave roughly 300 kilograms of prey for other animals to dine on.