Polar Bear News

Warming leaves some Hudson Bay polar bears starving

Canada's Hudson Bay was late freezing over this season, and scientists say the lack of ice, from which polar bears hunt seals, is pushing some bears to starvation, reports CBC News.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23

$400,000 apiece? Canadians try to put economic value on polar bears

Canadians are willing to shell out about $500 per household each year to save their polar bear population from a die-off caused by global warming, according to research commissioned by the Canadian government. Canada has about 15,000 polar bears, two-thirds of the world population. The bears are worth $6.3 billion to Canadians, or about $400,000 apiece, according to the estimate. Continued on jump

Alaska officials pan endangered species law

The endangered species law is being used to gain control over landscapes and seascapes rather than to protect species, according to the Alaska wildlife official who works on state responses to federal species listings.

US met obligations for polar bear protection, judge rules

A federal judge ruled Monday that the government did not breach its obligations under the Endangered Species Act by not considering greenhouse gas emissions in efforts to protect polar bears.

Numerous species reportedly shrinking in individual size

From the mighty polar bear to the tiny house sparrow, many of Earth's species appear to be shrinking in size, a new study reports. And the authors think it's probably due to global warming, a little like wool sweaters that shrink when washed in hot water.

Federal agency tries to write polar bear recovery plan

In a windowless Anchorage convention center more than a thousand miles from polar bears roaming on sea ice, marine mammal biologists gathered last week to work on a recovery plan for the Arctic Ocean's most famous fauna.

Alaska joins appeal of ruling on polar bear 'threatened' status

The Parnell administration on Friday joined a parade of parties appealing the June decision by a federal judge in Washington, D.C., that the government correctly listed polar bears as a threatened species.

State seeks to quantify cost of endangered species restrictions

Federal agency lifts suspension of Arctic scientist

An Alaska scientist whose observations of drowned polar bears spurred national publicity on climate warming returned to work Friday at the federal agency that oversees offshore petroleum drilling.

State seeks to quantify cost of endangered species restrictions

The state of Alaska is soliciting proposals for a $350,000 analysis of the economic costs of Endangered Species Act listings. According to the solicitation, the economic impacts are "substantial," but the state wants a more accurate estimate.

Alaska polar bear cub gets playmate

The Louisville Zoo says it will soon have a second polar bear cub.

North Slope polar bear dies after hazing shot by guard

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service law enforcement is investigating after a guard at BP's Endicott oil field apparently mortally wounded a polar bear by shooting it with a pyrotechnic shotgun shell in a hazing incident.

More polar bear news and photos

Suspended Arctic scientist's complaint to get federal review

The Interior Department says an inquiry is under way into the treatment of suspended Arctic scientist Charles Monnett. A watchdog group filed a complaint on Monnett's behalf, charging scientific and scholarly misconduct in his suspension.

Watchdog says merit of polar bear paper was the issue

The federal investigation into suspended wildlife biologist Charles Monnett has focused on the scientific merit of a 2006 article in which he and a colleague recorded their observations of apparently drowned polar bears in the Arctic, a watchdog group said Tuesday.

Polar bear kills teen camper, injures 4 others in Norway

A polar bear attacked a group of British students camping on a remote Arctic glacier, killing a 17-year-old boy and injuring four other young people before a trip member fatally shot the bear.

Polar bear scientist suspension is about project management

The government's suspension of an Arctic scientist was related to how a polar bear research project was awarded and managed, not to his earlier scientific work detailing drowned polar bears, a watchdog group said Monday.

Scientist's suspension unrelated to polar bear paper, official says

The recent suspension of Alaska wildlife biologist Charles Monnett is unrelated both to an article that he wrote about presumably drowned Arctic polar bears and to his scientific work, a federal official said Friday.

Scientist questioned over 'integrity issues'

Scientist questioned over 'integrity issues'

A federal wildlife biologist whose 2006 report of polar bears likely drowning in the Arctic helped galvanize the global warming movement was placed on administrative leave as officials investigate allegations of scientific misconduct.

Less ice means longer swims more lethal to polar bear cubs

Polar bears that must swim farther between rest stops because of diminished sea ice off Alaska's coast may be paying a price in lost cubs and precious calories, a federal study says.

More polar bear news and photos

U.S.-Russia commission to meet on Chukchi polar bears

Polar bears in the Chukchi Sea off Alaska's northwest coast face an uncertain future because of the warming climate. A U.S. and Russia commission aims to address short-term threats.

More polar bear news and photos

Judge backs decision to list polar bears as threatened

A judge on Thursday backed a finding by government scientists that global warming is threatening the survival of the polar bear. The state of Alaska and hunting groups argued that the listing was unnecessary.

PDF: Judge's memorandum opinion

Polar bear cub's mother found, but they won't be reunited

A rescued polar bear cub is thriving at the Alaska Zoo but federal wildlife officials said Wednesday they briefly considered trying to reunite the wild tyke with its mother after the adult bear was spotted on sea ice off the state's northern coast.

Photos: Rescued polar bear cub