Author Topic: Polar Bear living inland.  (Read 1235 times)

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Offline Sourdough

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Polar Bear living inland.
« on: September 01, 2011, 08:50:27 AM »
The environmental wackos got it wrong.

During a luncheon yesterday with one of the hunting and fishing groups I am affiliated with, we were discussing Polar Bears.  Fish and Game had some new information to give us.  For several years F&G have been trying to determine the cause of the decline of Musk-Ox on the North Slope.  They suspected, but needed proof before they would commit to naming the predator.   Now Polar Bears have been discovered hunting, killing, and eating, Musk-Ox.  This is occurring on Alaska's North Slope miles away from the ocean.  The Bears have discovered a food source and are making the best of it.  So much for the idea of Polar Bears not being able to live on dry land, like the environmental groups are claiming.  I brought up the point that recent DNA testing found Polar Bears are closely related to Grizzly Bears.  Basically they are Grizzly Bears adapted to hunting on the sea ice.  In my opinion there is no reason they could not live on dry land.  I pointed out the Polar Bear found at Fort Yukon, 250 miles from the ocean, a few years back.  That Polar Bear had been living on dry land for quite a while.  It did not make that 250 mile trek over night.  The Polar Bear was healthy, and in good shape, indicating it had been eating regularly. 

As we were breaking up, one of the guys cornered me to discuss something with me.  He asked if I go to a certain location frequently during the winter.  I informed him that I was a regular there.  He said they have had several reports from reputable sources of a Polar Bear living in the area.  This is South of the Yukon River, way south of the Arctic Circle, around 400 miles from the Arctic Ocean.  He asked me not to divulge the exact location, but if in the area to try and locate it, and get a picture if possible.  Yea right, me color blind as all get out, take a picture of a white bear in white snow.
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Offline ihookem

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Re: Polar Bear living inland.
« Reply #1 on: September 02, 2011, 01:00:38 PM »
I always wondered why they didn't go inland. Never made sense to me. A bear with 4 legs can walk a long way. I bet 50 mi. a day easy. Why would it not want to eat what it gets. This also tells me the polar bear numbers are expanding. This is what is happening in Wisconsin. Healthy black bears and expanding even into S.E. Wisconsin to some degree.

Offline Empty Quiver

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Re: Polar Bear living inland.
« Reply #2 on: September 03, 2011, 09:55:14 AM »
I always wondered why they didn't go inland. Never made sense to me. A bear with 4 legs can walk a long way. I bet 50 mi. a day easy. Why would it not want to eat what it gets. This also tells me the polar bear numbers are expanding. This is what is happening in Wisconsin. Healthy black bears and expanding even into S.E. Wisconsin to some degree.


I would be of the thought that marine mammals are the easiest thing for them to capture. Must be some lack of that easily gathered (for them) food source. Makes perfect sense they would go where the groceries are.
**Concealed Carry...Because when seconds count help is only minutes away**

Offline pastorp

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Re: Polar Bear living inland.
« Reply #3 on: September 04, 2011, 06:42:45 AM »
I was watching a doctomentry on tv the other night & they showed pictures of a polar bear cross bread with a grizzley. It was in Canada but I don't remember exactly where.

Sure they adapt to whatever food sources are available. Bears, all of them eat almost anything. They are not going to stay on the beach & starve just because there is less sea ice.  ;)

Regards,
Byron

Christian by choice, American by the grace of God.

NRA LIFE

Offline Sourdough

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Re: Polar Bear living inland.
« Reply #4 on: September 05, 2011, 07:25:44 AM »
There have been two shot, one in Canada, and one here in Alaska.  DNA test was done on both.  That is when the discovery was made Polar Bears are decended from Grizzlies. 

This is scary for me, I go into the White Mountains quite a bit during the winter.  I'm colorblind and would not be able to pick it out on the snow.  Other people would see a yellow bear on white snow, I'd see nothing but white.
Where is old Joe when we really need him?  Alaska Independence    Calling Illegal Immigrants "Undocumented Aliens" is like calling Drug Dealers "Unlicensed Pharmacists"
What Is A Veteran?
A 'Veteran' -- whether active duty, discharged, retired, or reserve -- is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America,' for an amount of 'up to, and including his life.' That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country today who no longer understand that fact.

Offline BUGEYE

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Re: Polar Bear living inland.
« Reply #5 on: September 05, 2011, 09:09:54 AM »
There have been two shot, one in Canada, and one here in Alaska.  DNA test was done on both.  That is when the discovery was made Polar Bears are decended from Grizzlies. 

This is scary for me, I go into the White Mountains quite a bit during the winter.  I'm colorblind and would not be able to pick it out on the snow.  Other people would see a yellow bear on white snow, I'd see nothing but white.
well Sourdough, it's been good knowing you. ;D
but what better way to leave this world than as polar bear poop.
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Offline Sourdough

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Re: Polar Bear living inland.
« Reply #6 on: September 08, 2011, 03:30:25 PM »
The Greenies cry, "There is no ice for the Polar Bears to haul out on to hunt seals.  Well there is no ice for the seals to haul out on either.  Both have to haul out on shore.  Sound pretty equal to me.  Actually it gives the Bears more options for hunting.  Enter Musk-Ox into the equation.  Give them a little more time and they will discover Caribou.  With a little travel South they can find Moose and Dall Sheep.
Where is old Joe when we really need him?  Alaska Independence    Calling Illegal Immigrants "Undocumented Aliens" is like calling Drug Dealers "Unlicensed Pharmacists"
What Is A Veteran?
A 'Veteran' -- whether active duty, discharged, retired, or reserve -- is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America,' for an amount of 'up to, and including his life.' That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country today who no longer understand that fact.

Offline hillbill

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Re: Polar Bear living inland.
« Reply #7 on: September 08, 2011, 03:48:02 PM »
bears from what i understand are very adaptable.if all ice ceased to be. they would be in yur hip pocket tomorrow!some polar bears would adapt to hunting at sea, sum would starve and sum would move south.its possible they are just grizzer bears that moved north to take advantage of the food sources they found up there.and the cycle continues!

Offline pastorp

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Re: Polar Bear living inland.
« Reply #8 on: September 10, 2011, 07:27:39 PM »
Well Sourdough, Now that you spend your winters in Florida ya probably will be safe enough  :o I really doubt they will go that far south...

Of course the Gators been acting up, and I hear those Pythons are real mean too.  :o At least you can see them comming though.  ;)  And you'll die warm.  ;D

Regards,
Byron

Christian by choice, American by the grace of God.

NRA LIFE

Offline Rex in OTZ

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Re: Polar Bear living inland.
« Reply #9 on: September 12, 2011, 04:59:40 PM »
Polar Bears and Brown Bears do x-breed
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/special_events/green_week/article1133172.ece
, check it out on google they do rove around too looking for a place to den up, they do wander through NW Alaska quite oftin.
Noatak Bear.....I believe this one was taken with a .270win
http://www.anthc.org/chs/ces/climate/upload/Climate_Change_in_Noatak_Strategies_for_Community_Health.pdf
Noorvik Bear.....243win
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alaskapublic/2175695877/