Topic: Bears

Valentin Pazhetnov, Russia's unconventional 'mama bear'

Russia's winter bear hunt has long left bear cubs orphaned and vulnerable, but one man has developed a way to raise cubs and safely release them into the wild as adults. 

Polar bears emerged far earlier than thought, DNA study indicates (+video)

Polar bears were previously thought to have split from brown bears some 150,000 years ago. But a study of the bears' mitochondrial DNA indicates that they became a distinct species about 600,000 years ago. 

Looking for bears? There's an app for that

New cell phone apps can help tourists find a bison, wolf or grizzly bear in Yellowstone National Park. But rangers are afraid this could increase the danger for both the sight-seeing families, and the wildlife themselves.

Why it's so difficult to get pandas to mate

A newly published study of eight male pandas in China describes changes in their physiology as they prepare to mate. The peak panda breeding period lasts just over three weeks in spring, with each female's interest in sex lasting just 24 to 72 hours.

Giant pandas, on loan from China, now living in Scotland

A pair of giant pandas was loaned to a Scottish zoo by the Chinese government. The pandas arrived in Edinburgh on Sunday.

Yellowstone grizzly bears: New cause célèbre for effects of global warming?

For the first time, a US appellate court has ruled that the federal government must continue to protect an animal – in this case, Yellowstone grizzly bears – in part because of consequences of global warming.

Escaped wild animals hunted in Zanesville, Ohio

Zanesville, Ohio police have shot about 25 wild animals which escaped from an exotic animal sanctuary that was home to Grizzly bears, black bears, lions, tigers and cheetahs. Schools in Zanesville have been closed as the hunt for another 23 animals continues.

For tourist and grizzly bear, a team of referees

Bear '399,' the Angelina Jolie of grizzlies, attracts much attention at Grand Teton National Park. A volunteer brigade helps to maintain peace – and separation – between man and beast.

The Way of the Panda: The Curious History of China's Political Animal

How our obsession with pandas has evolved from a disturbing dead-is-best approach to a kinder sort of appreciation.

Grizzly encounters and other reasons for federal regulations

My Alaska encounters with fly fishing and grizzly bears reveal how much America benefits from federal regulations. Without them, this pristine wilderness would likely not exist, and neither would many protections for consumers and workers.

Polar bear origins: Polar bears have Irish ancestry, suggests DNA study

Polar bear origins: A study of mitochondrial DNA has found that polar bears can trace their ancestry back to an brown bear that lived in Ireland between 20,000 and 50,000 years ago.

Yellowstone grizzly attack: Why did it happen?

Yellowstone grizzly attack may result from two converging trends: More visitors to Yellowstone National Park and the rebounding grizzly bear population.

Medo the Slovenian brown bear cub makes a cute pet – for now

'Medo' is an abandoned baby brown bruin rescued by a family in Slovenia. Now they want to keep him, much to the chagrin of local animal experts.

Wolf wars: Can man and predator coexist in the West?

As the gray wolf comes off the Endangered Species list, new questions swirl about whether the animal can survive without federal protection – and its impact on cattle and other wildlife. The view from one ranch.

Kung Fu Panda 2: How real life informs a fantasy

Italy's largest animal is on the brink of extinction

The Marsican bears are the largest land animal in Italy, but they could soon be gone from the country's forest and mountains because of traffic accidents, illegally hunting, and unintentional poisoning.

Knut the celebrity polar bear drowned say experts

Knut, the polar bear, died in front of hundreds at the Berlin Zoo two weeks ago, but the cause of his death was unknown. Experts now say he drowned after falling into a pool.