In Hudson Bay and James Bay, its one of the worlds largest area for Polar Bears, is the only known place where Polar Bears den in the ground rather than snow. They dig caves in the lake and stream banks by digging down to the permafrost. This area is exceptionally far south for the Polar Bears, and scientists believe that they use these permafrost dens in the summer to cool off. No large denning areas have ever been found in Alaska; scientists speculate that Polar Bears in that region may winter in Siberia and then float across to Alaska on ice floes in the spring. The Polar Bear only mates in April through May every two years. Sometimes Polar Bears do not mate until every third year. Female Polar Bears only have an average of five litters in their lifetime and this combined with the fact that humans are inexorably encroaching upon their habitat, has contributed to their declining numbers. The female Polar Bear has a litter in its winter den of 1 to 4 (usually 2) young born anytime from November through January. When the cubs are born, they are about 12 inches long and weigh about one pound. They are blind and toothless and covered with soft, white fur. They grow rapidly on the milk they get from their mother, which contains about 30% fat. Cubs will remain with their mother anywhere from one and a half to two and half years, continuing to live in the den with her. Polar Bears are very aggressive. There have been several cases of Polar Bears attacking humans. Due to the fact that there has been very little contact between Polar Bears and humans, they have not yet learned to fear man, as you could see in the pictures. The threat of extinction for Polar Bears may not be as imminent as it is for other species, but it is still a very real possibility. Their slow breeding habits make them vulnerable, and global warning from pollution could have a disastrous effect on the cold-loving Polar Bear. If efforts are not made to protect Polar Bears and their steadily shrinking environment, their numbers may decrease even more in years to come.

Our local grocery store can be a busy place, especially at the holidays, but last night it was chaos. A mob of teddy bears had taken over the store--snagging cokes from the cooler, throwing ice chips at the patrons, singing Christmas carols at the top of their lungs. I tried to go about my business and get out of there quickly...and I did almost escape. But then....there he was...a lone bear...holding a melting pizza...and sniveling. Really, how could I resist? I put him in my cart. I took him back out. I considered. I hesitated. Finally, I plunked him in the cart, payed the exit fee and fled. So meet Douglas Fur--our new bear--a victim of global warming--relocated to our home. Ho ho home.