Post by Morgan Sierra on Jan 27, 2011 20:55:30 GMT -6
Blue Bears in Alaska
There are blue bears living in Alaska. No really, this is a real animal. It is called a glacier bear and it is actually a unique variation of the black bear. It inhabits an isolated area of Alaska that extends from the slopes of the Mount St. Elias Range southeastward towards Glacier Bay.
The area where glacier bears live is covered by glaciers that carve their way down the mountains and slowly crawl towards the sea. The bluish color of the ice has influenced the evolution of some of the bears in the area so that they have started to develop a blue tint to their fur. Their blue color allows them to blend into the ice of the glaciers and gives them a better chance of remaining hidden from their prey.
It was this same type of evolutionary natural selection that allowed the polar bear to become white so as to blend in with the snow of the far north. The glacier bear is a case of evolution in progress. Over time the bears may become even more blue in color if nature is allowed to take its course.
Glacier bears are extremely rare, and there is not much known about them. There is some debate over whether the bears are a unique species, a sub-species, or just an unusual color variation of the black bears that inhabit the area. Whatever the case may be the blue bear is a very beautiful addition to the bear family.
There are blue bears living in Alaska. No really, this is a real animal. It is called a glacier bear and it is actually a unique variation of the black bear. It inhabits an isolated area of Alaska that extends from the slopes of the Mount St. Elias Range southeastward towards Glacier Bay.
The area where glacier bears live is covered by glaciers that carve their way down the mountains and slowly crawl towards the sea. The bluish color of the ice has influenced the evolution of some of the bears in the area so that they have started to develop a blue tint to their fur. Their blue color allows them to blend into the ice of the glaciers and gives them a better chance of remaining hidden from their prey.
It was this same type of evolutionary natural selection that allowed the polar bear to become white so as to blend in with the snow of the far north. The glacier bear is a case of evolution in progress. Over time the bears may become even more blue in color if nature is allowed to take its course.
Glacier bears are extremely rare, and there is not much known about them. There is some debate over whether the bears are a unique species, a sub-species, or just an unusual color variation of the black bears that inhabit the area. Whatever the case may be the blue bear is a very beautiful addition to the bear family.
Scientists found a correlation between the average size of a brown bear population and their general diet. The tremendous brown bears (i.e., the Kodiaks famous in your state) inhabit the coastal regions, whereas the Grizzlies are found further inland, such as the Pacific Northwest and the Rockies.