Global warming really made a drastic impact not just on humans but on animals, as well. Polar bears living in icy areas are now looking for new habitats.

This is because glacier ice is melting slowly at the Arctic and polar bears have had to switch to the Canadian archipelago.

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The shift is occurring in a gradual and subtle way. The situation does prove that bears and other animals known very well how to go with the flow.

As sea ice is a moving sidewalk, it serves as the bears' guide to their new destination, according to Elizabeth Peacock, U.S. Geological Society researcher.

Sea ice is an important factor for polar bears because it helps them survive in many ways. It helps them find prey, migrate, mate and influences their denning behavior.

The bears' energy is consumed as they swim over large distance in open water. Also, once the bears are on land, it's possible they experience "walking hibernation" that leads them to stop eating.

"The longer the ice-free period, the longer the time without feeding," Peacock said.

A Discovery News report revealed that DNA analysis showed that for 15 to 45 years, the genes are heading to to Canadian Arctic archipelago.

Scientists confirmed the hybrid bears observed in North Beaufort Sea, known to be a region of Canada, is a local phenomenon.

TagsPolar bears, global warming, Canadian archipelago, Habitat, sea ice, Arctic region