Grizzly Bear Polar Bear Hybrid Shot and Killed

In Canada’s Northwest Territories (not far from Alaska) an Inuit hunter shot and killed a strange-looking polar bear. After an examination by scientists, it was confirmed the bear was part polar and part grizzly. The bear had the trademark thick white fur of a polar bear, but it also had brown paws, brown legs and a wide head.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources for the North West Territories remarked, “…it may be the first recorded second-generation polar-grizzly bear hybrid found in the wild.”

It’s quite sad the discovery had to come as a result of the bear’s death. A similar hybrid bear was also discovered after being shot in 2006. DNA tests are being conducted to determine if the two ‘grolar’ bears are genetically related.

Climate change is thought to be the cause of polar bears moving into traditional grizzly territory. There is less sea ice, and so more land is exposed to polar bears, which brings them into closer contact with the grizzlies.

Rather than being a few isolated incidents, hybrids could become more common as habitat changes bring more species together. One biologist predicts hybridization may not be limited to bears in the area. “That’s going to give a lot of organisms – a lot of marine mammals in particular - who’ve been separated for at least 10,000 years the opportunity to interbreed again, and we’re predicting we’re going to see a lot more of that.”

The NorthWest Territories Environment Departments estimates there are about 3,000 wild polar bears living in the arctic coastal areas. They estimate the grizzly population there to be of a somewhat larger size. A population of grizzlies also live in the arctic coastal areas.

Image Credit: Canadian Wildlife Service

(Note the bear pictured above is the grolar bear from 2006.)

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Giusy R.

2:13AM PDT on Apr 29, 2012

Stupid people. Stop this criminal hunt.

send a green star

Judith H.

9:09AM PDT on Apr 28, 2012

Natures way of saving the polar bear and they shoot it.

Tricia H.

5:43AM PDT on Apr 28, 2012

This breaks my heart. What pigs!! Shame on all of you!!

Joy L.

10:45PM PDT on Apr 27, 2012

stupid aholes I agree with Wendy above me give them a long painful death.

Marie Eve L.

10:26PM PDT on Apr 27, 2012

Stupid useless people...

Ruadha S.

2:32AM PST on Dec 11, 2011

I agree with Lisbett C. I doubt if there are any Inuits who AREN'T subsistence hunters. If you don't understand, just type "subsistence econmy-Inuits" in your browser" and educate yourself instead of this knee-jerk reaction to hunting.

I also agree with knowing WHY. Perfectfully understandable if the reason was "merely" subsistence. But if you had to face a polar bear or a grizzly with only a rifle, you'd be singing a different tune. I doubt if hybrids would be less aggressive.

And no, I do not approve of trophy hunting. And generally I don't approve of predator killing unless it's trying to kill you. But then I don't live in a remote and mostly frozen North.

Susan W.

11:20PM PST on Dec 10, 2011

Another senseless death.

Stella N.

7:25PM PST on Dec 9, 2011

Very sad.

Lisbett C.

7:57AM PST on Dec 9, 2011

OK, all this hate towards the Inuit hunters is highly unfair. But I also think that to avoid that, the article did not include some very important points. Being Canadian, I KNOW that the Inuits, especially in the remote regions mentioned need to hunt to survive. That is the way it is. Sorry vegans, but up there in the middle of winter, there is no ready source of veggies. In fact most of these remote locations have to have supplies flown in. The article also did not mention WHY the bear was shot. That was important info, considering the state of the polar bear. There must have been a good reason. Inuit hunters hunt out of necessity....not sport. Although, a couple of faces in that photo don't look Inuit to me. There is a lot that begs expalnation.

colleen p.

5:28AM PST on Dec 9, 2011

Inuets should not be allowed to hunt if nobody is alowed to hunt anything.