Oil and gas companies can now harass polar bears more severely

US wildlife regulators now allow oil and gas companies to cause more serious harm to polar bears. This means companies can now disturb polar bears in ways that might injure them, not just annoy them.

For years, oil and gas operations in Alaska could only disturb polar bears in minor ways. This rule change means companies can now operate in ways that might actually injure the animals, as long as it's not lethal. This shifts the balance between industrial activity and wildlife protection in a critical habitat.