BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A recent study shows that the plight of polar bears may be different in the age of climate change.

A Washington State University (WSU) study observed 20 polar bears that tried different strategies to conserve energy during the summer months. Scientists have speculated that the bears might be able to adapt to the longer ice-free seasons with more rest or by eating terrestrial food.

Yet the study shows that the bears had very little success.

Nearly all of them lost weight rapidly with an average of over two pounds lost per day.

Charles Robbins, director of the WSU Bear Center and co-author of the study, says neither strategy worked for the bears.

Both foragers and those that simply laid down for more rest lost weight and burned the same number of calories they would during hibernation.

Researchers say the results of the study show polar bears across the Arctic are at risk of starvation during the growing ice-free season.