Melting ice drives polar bear mothers to land - Reuters

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Melting ice drives polar bear mothers to land
Thu Jul 12, 2007 3:05PM EDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Melting sea ice is driving mother
polar bears onto dry land to give birth in northern Alaska,
U.S. Geological Survey scientists reported on Thursday.

They found that just 37 percent of polar bear dens were
built on sea ice between 1998 and 2004, compared to 62
percent between 1985 and 1994.

"Right now, pregnant females foraging offshore in summer
must wait up to a month longer than they did even 10 years
ago for new sea ice to form so they can travel to denning
areas on land," USGS researcher Steve Amstrup said in a
statement.

"Alternatively, they must swim ever greater expanses of open
water to reach suitable land denning habitat or they must den
on ice that may not be stable enough to survive the winter."

Eventually, the researchers predicted, the ice will freeze so
late that bears will be stranded at sea too far away to reach
land safely. Pregnant polar bears must create dens to protect
new cubs from the Arctic winter.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSN1235191720070712

[halobeam]

1. I just read this to my visiting nephew from GA

they teach in his school that global warming does not exist. I told him after reading this, he should always listen to both sides and make his own decision. Don't just listen to them, and don't just listen to me.. he has a good mind, and can make his own decisions, once he gathers facts/opinions from both sides.

I couldn't push what I really wanted to say, because it's my sisters son and I don't want family trouble, (she's way rightwing) but I couldn't keep my mouth shut completely. The kids are the future.

[Pharaoh]

2. They are in serious crisis

<img src="">

[Sequoia]

3. Beautiful photo. Thanks.

Just made it my wallpaper!

[Pharaoh]

4. Your Welcome

:toast: