The Wildlife News

A Project of Sage Steppe Wild

polar bears

  • Recent study moves split between brown bears and polar bears much further back in time

    Ralph Maughan

    5-milion years ago instead of 600,000 or 130,000 years ago- Recent interest in the relationship between polar bears and brown (grizzly) bears from which they emerged has been fueled by the observation of increasing numbers of polar bear – brown bear hybrids. Our recent article on this produced a number of comments, many of them…

  • All polar bears may have some Irish ancestry

    Ralph Maughan

    Though polar bears did not originate in Ireland, all may have a maternal line to one ancestral female brown bear in Ireland- Today’s sophisticated genetic analysis keeps finding the most interesting bits of biological history. DNA hints at polar bears’ Irish ancestry. By Susan Miliu. Science News.

  • Northern coast of Greenland, some far north islands in Canada to be only home for polar bears

    Ralph Maughan

    Last ditch location of polar bears is predicted- As arctic ice continues to melt, scientists have predicted where last few polar bears will make their last stand. Where Polar Bears Might Go If Climate Change Doesn’t Slow. By Pete Spotts. Christian Science Monitor/ABC News

  • Critical habitat for polar bears is finally designated

    Ralph Maughan

    187,157 square miles of Alaskan land and (mostly) ocean to be for the bears- U.S. Firms Up ‘Critical Habitat’ for Polar Bears. By Felicity Barringer. The Green Blog in the New York Times. Here is the web page on this from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Dept. of Interior). This is very important, but…

  • Ancient DNA from Rare Fossil Reveals That Polar Bears Evolved Recently and Adapted Quickly

    Ralph Maughan

    Polar bears are a geologically very new species- This is quite relevant because we have been discussing how grizzly bears are displacing polar bears in the Arctic.  We already knew brown bears were polar bears’ ancestors. Ancient DNA from Rare Fossil Reveals That Polar Bears Evolved Recently and Adapted Quickly. Science Daily.

  • Sarah Palin: The view from Alaska

    Ralph Maughan

    Palin is not a typical Alaskan- Salon Magazine has a report on Palin as one kind of Alaskan — the kind that came north during the oil boom and changed the state’s culture for the worse (in the opinion of the Alaskan author of the piece). She is far from being “Jane, six pack;” and…

  • Sarah Palin: Ice queen of the Arctic

    Ralph Maughan

    A view of Palin’s views on the environment from a major U.K. newspaper. Sarah Palin, the Republican party’s vice-president nominee, governs an oil-rich area that has seen some of the most dramatic effects of climate change. So what’s her record on environmental concerns? By Britt Collins. The Guardian. Sarah Palin: Ice queen of the Arctic

  • Ranching & Forestry industries send 60-day Notice of Intent to Sue Interior to prevent Polar Bear listing

    Brian Ertz

    The Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF) sent a 60-day Notice of Intent to sue the Department of Interior over its decision to list Polar Bears under the Endangered Species Act.  From PLF’s News Release: The PLF letter is filed on behalf of ranching and forestry interests that, along with employers nationwide and the economy in general,…

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