The relationship between energetic gain and locomotory cost is a key determinant in predatory behaviour and greatly influences predator–prey interactions (e.g. Sinclair et al., 2003; Scharf et al., 2006). In the broadest sense, predatory behaviour of mammalian carnivores spans a range from ambushes [e.g. lions (Panthera leo) and leopards (Panthera pardus)] to rapid, long-distance pursuits [e.g. cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) and spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta); e.g. Bro-Jørgensen, 2013]. A particularly intriguing case involves the interactions of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) and lesser snow geese (Chen caerulescens caerulescens), a land-based prey that may become an increasingly important seasonal food resource for polar bears as climate changes (Gormezano and Rockwell, 2013a,b, 2015).