Polar bear-grizzly hybrids are extremely rare, though one was found (that is, shot) last year.
Now a second generation bear might have been discovered (shot by a native hunter). Story in the National Post.
Ralph Maughan
Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University with specialties in natural resource politics, public opinion, interest groups, political parties, voting and elections. Aside from academic publications, he is author or co-author of three hiking/backpacking guides, and he is past President of the Western Watersheds Project and the creator of The Wildlife News.
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Is there any record of black bears breeding with grizzlies?
Jeff,
No, they are not genetically compatible.
Polar bears are actually an off shoot of the Brown bear and their hybridization, if you want to call it that, is all in the family.
With all of these extinctions, we need some hybridization to give the taxonomists something to do! 😉