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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

People better get used to polar bears hanging out

Melting sea ice forces beasts to live closer to humans

By: Bob Weber

12/01/2010 1:00 AM | Comments: 2

CANWEST NEWS SERVICE ARCHIVES Enlarge Image

Polar bear sightings near Hudson Bay should rise as sea ice continues to melt, scientists say.

A study on how Alaskan polar bears are responding to melting sea ice suggests that Inuit hunters may be right -- climate change may already be causing more human-bear contact and rendering Canadian management programs for the mighty predator obsolete.

A study that recorded 25 years worth of bear sightings on the Alaskan coast suggests that polar bears are spending more time either on land or in the open ocean instead of the sea ice they normally use as a hunting platform.

Sea ice in the Beaufort Sea has been declining more quickly than in other parts of the Arctic. At the same time, humans and bears have been running into each other more often.

Biologist Karyn Rode of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said that decline may be a big part of the reason why bear sightings on land more than tripled between 1979 and 2005. Open water sightings increased as well.

Between 1979 and 1985, only 12 per cent of bear sightings were not associated with ice. By 2005, that figure had risen to 90 per cent.

"There is a change," said Rode. "We don't know what the consequences of that change are."

Rode warned that ice conditions vary widely across the Arctic and the same factors may not be at play for bears elsewhere in the North.

But Andy Derocher, a polar bear biologist at the University of Alberta and a leading global expert on the animals, said the Alaska findings may hint at what's coming to Canada.

The community of Arviat on Hudson Bay has complained for several years of bear hazard. Derocher said declining sea ice on the bay may be forcing the bears along a strip of ice along the coastline that leads past the community.

Baffin Bay, where Inuit have long complained bear hunting quotas are too low, is another place where changing sea ice could already be affecting bear behaviour.

-- Canwest News Service

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 12, 2010 A7

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2 Comments

Posted by: hughglass

January 12, 2010 at 3:36 PM

Like any "report", a summary like this, without the data is shaky at best!And given the propensity of the globalscammers to "cook the books" I am skeptical. My guess is the number of "on ice" sightings is driven primarily by the number of "observers" who venture out on the ice to "observe". Absent a poplulation explosion among Inuits, this number is probably constant. If, as other studies maintain, polar bear populations are increasing they will naturally expand their range, encroaching into more poplulated areas. i.e. Areas with more" observers" to "observe". This article could have meant something if the number of sightings was reported. Per Cents, by location are near meaningless. For example: On ice sightings 1978 88, on shore sighting 12 (12%)...On ice sightings 2009 88, on shore sightings 800 (90%). The swingin percent could be duetomorebears. This jump looks crazy, but as numerous bears lumber around town, multiple sigthtings if the same bears would become common. (See Churchill) A rare occurance, I would think, out on the ice pack. The absolute numbers would have told the tale. Probably why they weren't included. Regarding the polar bear experts analysis... "The community of Arviat on Hudson Bay has complained for several years of bear hazard. Derocher said "declining sea ice on the bay may be forcing the bears along a strip of ice along the coastline" that leads past the community" I have an alternate explanation..THERE'S MORE BEARS!

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Posted by: Arnie M.

January 12, 2010 at 8:02 AM

Polar Bear count 1945 ..... 5000
Polar Bear count 1997 .....16000
Polar Bear count 2008 .....25000

But if you ask Al Gore he will tell you they face extinction. Don't be fooled folks. Best regards.