Hybrid bear shot dead in Canada

[DELUSIONAL]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4766217.stm

A white bear with brown patches shot dead in northern Canada is the first grizzly-polar hybrid found in the wild, DNA tests have confirmed.

Canadian wildlife officials say it is the offspring of a male grizzly bear and a female polar bear.

There have long been stories of oddly coloured bears living in regions where the two territories overlap.

But until now, grizzly-polar hybrids, dubbed "grolar bears" or "pizzlies", have been found only in zoos.

The hybrid bear was shot last month by an American big game hunter on Banks Island, Northwest Territories, Canada.

Interesting -- is this how the polar bear will survive? Crossing with grizzly bears -- but this begs the question -- is this a mule type bear? Or can the Polar/grizzly reproduce??

[Deja Q]

1. Well

Interesting -- is this how the polar bear will survive? Crossing with grizzly bears -- but this begs the question -- is this a mule type bear? Or can the Polar/grizzly reproduce??

If people keep shooting them before they get a chance to get jiggy and prove the point conclusively, then the answer is "No, they can not reproduce."

[aikoaiko]

11. I think it was sterile.

Two different species: Ursus maritimus (polar bear) and Ursus arctos horribilis (grizzly bear)

But hopefully they'll do some analysis of the physiology.

[burrowowl]

15. Hopefully they do check the physiology

Mules are usually sterile too, horse and donkey.
It would be interesting if it weren't sterile.

[Orsino]

17. But it got incredible gas mileage. n/t

[Jeffersons Ghost]

18. canis lupus and canis familiaris produce viable offspring

why not Ursus?

[Solon]

21. Don't forget Canis latrans, the Coyote...

they produce Coydogs, Dogotes, another fertil hybrid with domestic dogs. Also, now the classification of domestic dogs is Canis lupus familiaris, a subspecies of wolves.

[havocmom]

2. Friend or ours was wondering how they met

Another friend was speculating that a radical, white supremacist polar bear group might be holding rallies.

I know some people who think outside the box ;)

[Gman]

12. There has been a lot of talk in Polar Bear circles about

their white race being intermixed and the mongrolization of their race. They never did like multiculturalism.

[malaise]

16. Clearly the white bears need

border patrols.

[dogindia]

3. cross big game hunter with something so we can shoot him.

gosh people are stupid and cruel.

[Gabi Hayes]

4. yep...the guy paid 45 THOUSAND dollars for the permit to kill

that magnificent creature

how I hate those bastards. nothing against lots of hunters, but killing for sport is disgusting beyond words. can you imagine watching something DIE at your own hands?

bare hands next time, you rich coward

try that, bearmeat

[Canadian_NewDemocrat]

6. why do Americans always have to come up here just to shoot things?

[TX-RAT]

19. Make it illegal, and stop advertising and they'll stop.

Then again, why would you want to deprive the natives of their major source of income.

[jesus_of_suburbia]

Bravo! I totally agree with you.

What as A-Hole that hunter is.

[lonestarnot]

5. Interracial bear marriage... Poor tings.... surprised he wasn't lynched.

[ConcernedYoungMan]

14. good one

haha.

[NJ Democrats]

7. Is that the one Colbert talked about?

[sam sarrha]

8. the most dangerous bear and second most dangerous mix..!!!!

not a neighbor i want to live next to

[flvegan]

9. Agreed. So dangerous

the killer needed a guide to find him before shooting him to death for his pelt, the "hunter's" trophy.

Indeed.

[sam sarrha]

10. only in reference to it as a predator

[TX-RAT]

20. I believe a Native guide is required by the Government.

The hunter may just take back the pelt, but the meat is donated to local tribes.

[Initech]

13. Stephen Colbert is going to be all over this one!

:popcorn:

[B3Nut]

22. A Hybrid bear?

How many miles per tummyfull did it get? :D

(Sorry!)

Todd in Beerbratistan