Polar Bear Populations: Who Has it Right?

[Twisted Canuck]

I found this article quiet interesting. The local Inuit populations say the bears are increasing in some areas and stable in other, and in no danger from climate change (more or less, they are adapting), which directly contradicts the scientists and their models that say the populations are all in danger. Of course, most of them have never been to Nunavut, and the models are just....well, models. I know who's knowledge I have more faith in, and it's not those with an ideological agenda who are trying to get more grant money to support the agenda in question. I can see where the Inuit have skin in the game, as some of them have been preyed on in recent years....

https://nationalpost.com/news/so-man...numbers-unsafe

[CanuckShooter]

Keep in mind which group profits from guiding and the sale of polar bear parts....

[Imagehunter]

Remember the video of the starving polar bear a few months ago that some used to warn about climate change? There were plenty of researchers speaking out against it, saying the numbers aren't declining everywhere and some populations are stable or growing.
Most people just don't want to hear about it as it isn't generating enough clicks for news articles and advertising.

[grouse_hunter]

All I hope is that there is at least one bear left by the time I can afford a guided hunt. Would make one heck of a rug!

[Howard Hutchinson]

I would say both parties are correct. The Polar bears are staying longer on land because the ice flows are taking longer to form. Thus getting ever hungrier and encroaching closer to humans,the easier target.

As far as numbers go, I am not sure yet would think Mother Nature would take care of her own, in her own way and not let them over-populate? One could argue that Mother Nature might have them create more young because they aren't living a very long life.

It was indeed a good article though.. I think it's getting ever harder for them (Bears) to survive.

[Twisted Canuck]

Originally Posted by CanuckShooter

Keep in mind which group profits from guiding and the sale of polar bear parts....

Exactly right, so it is in their best interest to maintain a healthy and viable population based on accurate numbers, right? Wouldn't want to kill the goose that lays the polar bear eggs, or however that goes.....

[GrouseHunter]

Originally Posted by grouse_hunter

All I hope is that there is at least one bear left by the time I can afford a guided hunt. Would make one heck of a rug!

Now thats funny! Lol

[Talking moose]

Originally Posted by Twisted Canuck

Exactly right, so it is in their best interest to maintain a healthy and viable population based on accurate numbers, right? Wouldn't want to kill the goose that lays the polar bear eggs, or however that goes.....

Depends. In the long run yes.... but this is a here and now generation. Greed can overpower many a man.

[Twisted Canuck]

Originally Posted by Talking moose

Depends. In the long run yes.... but this is a here and now generation. Greed can overpower many a man.

I was a little tongue in cheek with that post for sure, thought the polar bear eggs would indicate that....got to be careful about negative comments on stewards of the land though.

[Tundra Monkey]

Originally Posted by CanuckShooter

Keep in mind which group profits from guiding and the sale of polar bear parts....

Are you a racist or simply someone who has no clue what they’re speaking about?

[walking buffalo]

Originally Posted by Tundra Monkey

Are you a racist or simply someone who has no clue what they’re speaking about?

His perspective seems to depend on what lawsuits are on the table.
Might Expect Treaty Inclusion Someday.


Good to see you Monkey, been too long.


Of course those scientists claiming these bears are in big trouble have absolutely no personal bias or self interest....

[Sundancefisher]

Originally Posted by CanuckShooter

Keep in mind which group profits from guiding and the sale of polar bear parts....

And which groups needs there to be reasons to get millions in grant research money and not upset WWF

[riden]

They love a good political football in Nunavut. It's got a government even more top heavy than Quebec's.

It's interesting times in Nunavut, their government is doing very poorly and it may be structural, there are no parties in Nunavut. A lot of people are calling for a lot bigger change than an election will bring, and they may be right. It may be needed.

But if you follow the Nunavut news, winning these types of battles over control, are a really big deal in Nunavut right now a lot bigger than most realize.

[Hawkeye]

PERHAPS those are the same biologists that claim that we are running out of grizzly bears, too, whereas the 'locals' claim otherwise........

[ReconWilly]

(know)ledge>be(lie)f

[landowner]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

PERHAPS those are the same biologists that claim that we are running out of grizzly bears, too, whereas the 'locals' claim otherwise........

I think you hit the nail on the head.

[EZM]

Once again, people will believe what they want to believe. They will support the perspective that benefits themselves.

Ironically, the reality is climate change has had effects on many forms of wildlife, simply, it's how successfully can these species adapt to these changes. Many species are not so fortunate.

Adaptation is a precursor to evolution. These bears are clearly able to adapt well in many areas ..... I would not doubt that ........... and that's good news for that species if that proves true.

[Desert Eagle]

I was up in Nunavut this fall. It's a much different story once you are up there. Our camp was 50 miles from where a local was killed from a polar bear in August. There is a whole story to It, but in the end 5 polar bears came into their camp. This was in about 4 days.

There is a lot of polar bears running around up there, more than I would have thought.

But I guess it is the same as grizzles here.... they are everywhere.

[Hawkeye]

A few days ago, there was a report that global animal populations had decreased by more than 50%. That may be true, but the world is a big place, with huge diversity in the kinds and numbers of animals. So......how much credibility is there to such a claim?? I simply don't know......

[Howard Hutchinson]

Originally Posted by Desert Eagle

I was up in Nunavut this fall. It's a much different story once you are up there. Our camp was 50 miles from where a local was killed from a polar bear in August. There is a whole story to It, but in the end 5 polar bears came into their camp. This was in about 4 days.

There is a lot of polar bears running around up there, more than I would have thought.

But I guess it is the same as grizzles here.... they are everywhere.

>>
I believe this 100%...Word is getting out that seals are not the only game in town. I've also read that Polar Bears are one of the species which will stalk and take down a human being.

[Red Bullets]

The polar bears were in the north for a millennium. They most likely evolved from the times when the north was full of forests long before the ice came. Then they adapted to the ice. Now the polar bears will adapt to more of a land base animal. They are a successful species.

We should transplant some polar bears to the west coast to take care of the seals there.

[Howard Hutchinson]

Originally Posted by Red Bullets

The polar bears were in the north for a millennium. They most likely evolved from the times when the north was full of forests long before the ice came. Then they adapted to the ice. Now the polar bears will adapt to more of a land base animal. They are a successful species.

We should transplant some polar bears to the west coast to take care of the seals there.

>>
Transplant them to Alberta to take care of the Grizz here! At least we'd see them more readily

[Red Bullets]

Originally Posted by Howard Hutchinson

>>
Transplant them to Alberta to take care of the Grizz here! At least we'd see them more readily

A guy would just need a armed bear watch guy outside the ice fishing tent.

[walking buffalo]

Twisted,


If I may answer on behalf of the World Wildlife Fund....

The scientists interviewed for this article are full of it.

The latest update from the WWF on Polar Bears.

Only ONE surveyed sub-population is currently in decline.

https://arcticwwf.org/species/polar-bear/population/

[lmtada]

How many Inuit hunters have perished this year (2) from Claws of great white beast.

[Big Grey Wolf]

Never new a polar bear or grizz that did not find food when he was hungry, regardless of how much ice and seals. They adapt like the rest of us!

[HighlandHeart]

If you want to use stories about an animal to raise money it is pretty hard to beat the polar bear. Tell people that the codfish are endangered and they will not reach for their checkbook.

[Talking moose]

Originally Posted by Big Grey Wolf

Never new a polar bear or grizz that did not find food when he was hungry, regardless of how much ice and seals. They adapt like the rest of us!

I don’t know man.... grizzly has many food sources. A polar bear is very specialized. They pretty much fast until the ice returns and they can hunt seals again........

[Howard Hutchinson]

Originally Posted by Talking moose

I don’t know man.... grizzly has many food sources. A polar bear is very specialized. They pretty much fast until the ice returns and they can hunt seals again........

>>
And this is why they are moving inland to where another source of food is..I believe this to be true.

[Talking moose]

Originally Posted by Howard Hutchinson

>>
And this is why they are moving inland to where another source of food is..I believe this to be true.

They are moving inland and not going out on the ice when it returns? What is this other food source you speak of? Garbage dumps?