Survey and analysis of cases of natural death of the polar bear (Ursus maritimus) on Wrangel Island in 1969–1982

A rare and forgotten study, now translated and analyzed, reveals that polar bear (Ursus maritimus) mortality on Wrangel Island from 1964 to 1982 was both unpredictable in detection but showed measurable patterns. The research found an average of 2.7–3.7 adult bear deaths per year, alongside 1.27 cub deaths and 0.47 female deaths annually. Survival rates for cubs fluctuated significantly, with a trend of 2 > 1 > 3 surviving cubs per mother over the study period. The analysis employed statistical comparisons using T-White and W-Wilcoxon criteria to assess mortality trends, highlighting the potential for predictive modeling despite uneven data collection.

Prydatko-Dolin, V. (2022). Survey and analysis of cases of natural death of the polar bear (Ursus maritimus) on Wrangel Island in 1969–1982. Novitates Theriologicae, (13), 106–115. Internet Archive. https://doi.org/10.53452/nt1344