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Polar Bear News

Government reaches agreement on polar bear habitat

The federal government will designate "critical habitat" for polar bears in the ocean off Alaska's coast, a decision that could add restrictions to future offshore petroleum exploration or drilling.

Polar bear rule prompts suit

WASHINGTON -- Five industry groups have sued the Interior Department over a rule to protect the polar bear that they say unfairly singles out business operations in Alaska for their contribution to global warming.

Alaska sues over listing of polar bear as threatened

The State of Alaska sued Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne on Monday, seeking to reverse his decision to list polar bears as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.

Saving polar bears' skins

Environmental and animal rights groups have lined up to oppose a lawsuit that seeks to let American sport hunters again import hides of polar bears shot legally in Canada.

Oil firms get OK to bother polar bears

Less than a month after declaring polar bears a threatened species because of global warming, the Bush administration is allowing oil companies to affect them in small ways while exploring for oil and natural gas in the Chukchi Sea over the next five years.

Conservation groups sue to protect Arctic marine mammals

Lawsuits for polar bears built on Endangered Species Act

Two conservation groups have given the federal government formal notice they intend to sue to protect polar bears from petroleum exploration and drilling off Alaska's coast.

E-mail reveals state dispute over polar bear listing

The state's marine mammal scientists agreed last year with federal researchers who concluded polar bears are threatened with extinction because of a shrinking ice cap.

Polar bears join 'threatened' list

Bear advocates fight to curb emissions

State will sue over polar bear listing, Palin says

Alaska will sue to challenge the recent listing of polar bears as a threatened species, Gov. Sarah Palin said Wednesday.

Bear advocates fight to curb emissions

Polar bears join 'threatened' list

Bear advocates fight to curb emissions

Conservation groups announced Tuesday they are challenging Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne's attempt to limit collateral economic damage from listing polar bears as a threatened species.

Polar bears join 'threatened' list

Groups sue over polar bear listing

Conservation groups that sued to list polar bears as threatened are back in court taking aim at what they say is the animals' top threat — greenhouse gas emissions that have led to rapid melting of polar bear habitat, sea ice.

Polar bears join 'threatened' list

Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne announced Wednesday that the agency will list the polar bear as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, a decision that could cast the bears as the enduring symbol of the effects of global warming.

Senators blast polar bear's 'threatened' status

WASHINGTON -- Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne announced Wednesday that the agency will list the polar bear as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, a decision that could cast the bears as the enduring symbol of the effects of global warming.

Listing disappoints state political, industry leaders

Deadline approaches for polar bear decision

Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne hasn't added a U.S. creature to the endangered species list since he took office two years ago. The former Idaho governor has until Thursday to decide on one that could prove troublesome to promising petroleum drilling off Alaska's northern coast and force federal agencies in other states to react to new greenhouse gas emissions.

Legislature wants polar bear study

The state Legislature is looking to hire a few good polar bear scientists. The conclusions have already been agreed upon -- researchers just have to fill in the science part.

Polar bear ruling ordered

Polar bear ruling ordered

A federal judge has ordered the Interior Department to decide within 16 days whether polar bears should be listed as a threatened species because of global warming.

Judge orders decision on bears

A federal judge has ordered the Interior Department to decide within 16 days whether polar bears should be listed as a threatened species.

Interior secretary dodges hearing

Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne was a no-show Wednesday in front of a Senate committee seeking an explanation for why his agency has been slow to decide whether to list polar bears as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

Polar bear limbo goes to court

Three conservation groups sued the Department of the Interior on Monday for failing to meet a deadline on deciding whether to list polar bears as threatened because of the loss of Arctic sea ice.

Conservation groups sue for polar bear decision

Three conservation groups sued the Department of the Interior on Monday for failing to meet a deadline on a decision to list polar bears as threatened because of the loss of Arctic sea ice.

Concerns about pipeline test polar-bear politics

The polar bear can be found in just one place in America -- Alaska -- and is perhaps as much a symbol of the state as, say, alligators are of Florida. So you might think Alaska's politicians would be pounding on doors in Washington to protect it.

Legal fray likely after ruling on polar bear status

If U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service director Dale Hall really thinks he can do nothing about greenhouse gases to save the polar bear, he'll be hearing soon from Kassie Siegel.

VIDEO

Bear vs. moose

A bear attacking a moose calf woke Ryan and Jennifer McLendon one morning.

VIDEO

Munching on moose

Grizzly bears dine on a moose hindquarter at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.

VIDEO

Anchorage's brown bears

Alaska state biologist Sean Farley talks about the recent bear/human conflicts in Anchorage.

VIDEO

Bear proof?

Zayk and Mavis, the Alaska Zoo's black bears, give up on a 96-gallon bear-resistant garbage container before successfully opening a standard can.

INTERACTIVE MAP

Tracking Anchorage grizzly bears

Track the movements of 11 Brown Bears in and around Anchorage.

READER-SUBMITTED

Bear sightings

Grizzly, black, and even Polar bear photos from our readers.

VIDEO

Bear vs. moose

A bear attacking a moose calf woke Ryan and Jennifer McLendon one morning.

VIDEO

Munching on moose

Grizzly bears dine on a moose hindquarter at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.

McNeil River Bears

Photographer Bob Hallinen visited the Mcneil River and captured some fascinating photographs and video of Alaska's famous inhabitants.

Urban bears

Bears are a common sight in the city during the summer.

Polar Bears

Their status as an endangered species is a hot political item, but the images of these rare arctic animals are a breathtaking sight.

SECTION

Timothy Treadwell

Coverage of the "Grizzly Man," Timothy Treadwell, who was killed by a bear in Katmai National Park and then made international headlines when a documentary was made about him.

Retiree welcomes neighborhood bears

Fifty miles northwest of Alaska's largest city, the roadless hills and boggy swamps of the Yentna River Valley have for years hidden the secret of bear man Charlie Vandergaw.

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