Biologists say dozens of grizzlies reside in Anchorage

[Mugu]

AP via Yahoo

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A study by state biologists has found parts of Anchorage are much more popular among grizzly bears than they previously thought.

At least three dozen grizzlies have been seen over the past three summers along Campbell Creek, which courses through industrial and residential areas and is home to a science center that is popular among families on warm summer days.

While biologists with the Department of Fish and Game knew the area was popular with bears, they were surprised to find out just how many were hanging out along the stream. It appears the bears are coming from several valleys in the Chugach Mountains above Anchorage.

Several dens were seen from downtown during the study, said Sean Farley, a bear research biologist. The bears are roaming large ranges that in some cases stretch all the way to the Little Susitna River west of Wasilla. From there a bear would have to swim through Cook Inlet waters to reach Anchorage, but that's no obstacle to the animals, Farley said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080429/ap_on_sc/anchorage_grizzlies;_ylt=AhuHFC6OkNKySLaa5TUsPYqzvtEF">Complete article

[msongs]

1. interesting tv show recently about the changing interaction of grizzlies and polar bears - >

in the warming artic, grizzlies exand their range because they are scavengers who eat almost anything edible. polar bears are stuck being dependent on sea ice and seals, plus occasional dead animals. so the polar bears are starving because they have fewer seals and do not eat other stuff, and grizzlies are moving into what was once exclusive polar bear territory because the grizzlies are more adapatable.

scientists have actually discovered genetic evidence that polar bears and grizzlies can and have mated and produced young although this is rare. maybe the future of polar bears is to blend into the grizzlie stock and the grizzlies will learn to hunt seals when ice conditions are right.

Msongs

[Blue_In_AK]

2. I saw that, also.

I think it was on the Discovery Channel, something called Expedition: Alaska that was part of "Alaska Week."

We've had these grizzly bears around Anchorage for quite some time, or forever maybe, but I think they're just discovering that there are more of them in the vicinity than they had thought. It's always a big issue every spring with Fish & Game telling everyone not to put their trash out the night before and to take down their bird feeders when the bears start coming out of their dens.

It's just one more thing to make living around here a bit unusual. :) I'm sure the large number of urban moose in Anchorage has a lot to do with the number of bears.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

3. My Dad had a pet bear in Vietnam

while he was stationed at Thanh Son Nhut Air Force Base during the Vietnam War. I'm not sure what kind of bear it was from the photos, but it looked medium-sized and black. He said it wandered down from the hills to the military barracks and began eating garbage. He started feeding it and it never left after that. However, the other soldiers began leaving opened beer bottles near it and it ended up drunk all day. It would grab an open beer bottle in its paws and roll back on its back and drink beer and loved the stuff.