Ocean Sentry
Scientists say shrinking Arctic sea ice may be forcing some polar bears into cannibalizing young cubs.
“When (bears) are very hungry, they go looking for something to eat,” biologist Ian Stirling said Friday. “There”s nothing much to eat along the Hudson Bay coast in the fall other than other bears.”
So far this fall, tour operators and scientists have reported at least four and perhaps up to eight cases of mature males eating cubs and other bears in the population around Churchill, Man. Four cases were reported to Manitoba Conservation; four to Environment Canada. “We would really need several years of data like this to confirm that something unusual’s going on,” he said. “While it’s very suggestive of an impact of climate change, it’s a little early to confirm that definitively.”
The Hudson Bay bears are considered Canada’s most vulnerable bear population. Scientists point to them as an example of what may happen to other bears as Arctic sea ice continues to shrink…. Read Full Article
