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Student Article

Polar Bears Are Suffering From Painful Ice Blocks on Their Paws Due to Climate Change

By: Sheena Harvey
Originally Published in  Discover Wildlife

Scientists discover large ice balls causing injuries to polar bears' feet.

The article "Polar Bears Are Suffering From Painful Ice Blocks on Their Paws Due to Climate Change" from BBC's Discover Wildlife explains how polar bears are experiencing painful ice blocks on their paws, some as large as 12 inches in diameter. Researchers from the University of Washington found that these ice blocks are causing deep injuries, and climate change is to blame for the freeze-thaw cycles that cause the blocks.
Student Article Info

BBC's Discover Wildlife brings you closer to nature with expert advice, conservation news, the best nature writing and stunning wildlife photography. Learn more about subscriptions here.

Grades:
3-56-89-12
Subject:
Science
Topic:
Life Science
Keywords
polar bearsclimate changeice blockspawsinjuriesfreeze-thaw cycles
A polar bear looking at its paw
© Getty

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Note: The BBC Learning Hub Editorial Team made use of AI tools to create multiple versions of this article, each tailored to different student reading levels. Every version undergoes a thorough review by our BBC Learning editors to ensure accuracy, quality, and appropriateness.

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Grades: 3-5Lexile Level: 600-900L
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Level 3 Reading Passage
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