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burdi:
Sabretooth squirrel saved by Alberta tooth fairy

By Sarah Kraus
Reporter  Global News

https://globalnews.ca/news/4278244/sabretooth-squirrel-alberta-dentistry/

burdi:
If anyone needs a quick pick-me-up, try watching this video!

Boy befriends bear at Nashville Zoo, films 'cutest' viral video ever

http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2018/06/14/boy-befriends-bear-at-nashville-zoo-films-cutest-viral-video-ever.html

The Peregrine Chick:
High-tech cameras suggest polar bears having tougher time hunting
Bob Weber / The Canadian Press / 1 Feb 2018


A polar bear is seen in this handout image taken from video from a camera attached to another polar bear. Researchers have attached tiny cameras to polar bears for a bear's-eye view of them hunting on the sea ice, one of a suite of high-tech tools providing what could be the closest look yet at how the iconic animals are coping with a rapidly changing Arctic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, U.S. Geological Survey *MANDATORY CREDIT*

Researchers have attached tiny cameras to polar bears for a bear's-eye view of them hunting on the sea ice, one of a suite of high-tech tools providing what could be the closest look yet at how the iconic animals are coping with a rapidly changing Arctic.

"This study was designed trying to get a much more detailed understanding of what the bears were actually doing on the ice," said researcher Anthony Pagano of the University of California in Santa Cruz.  Pagano wanted to capture hard data on how often bears catch seals and how many they need to keep healthy and strong in their demanding environment. 

He and his colleagues studied nine bears in the Beaufort Sea over the course of about a week during three successive Aprils from 2014 to 2016. They equipped the bears with GPS-enabled video cameras as well as with instruments to measure the speed and distance they travelled, how quickly they burned energy and how much time they spent in the water.  "It allowed us to actually monitor the behaviour of the animals," said Pagano. "(The camera) gave a perspective right underneath the bear's chin."

One big conclusion is that polar bears need a lot more food than previously thought. Scientists have believed that because bears hunt mostly by waiting for a seal to pop through a blowhole, they don't use much energy. Others theorized the bears were able to lower their metabolism during those waits. Wrong, said Pagano. His study concludes bear metabolism is about 60 per cent higher than previous estimates, meaning the animals need to eat that many more seals to maintain weight. "Overall, the metabolic rates of these animals are similar to other marine and terrestrial carnivores. They need to be catching more seals than would have been predicted previously." The cameras recorded footage of bears catching seals and hauling them out of the ice, as well as of bears wrestling with large seals in frigid waters. "It was quite fascinating and really exciting to watch," said Pagano.

Ominously, he found that five of his nine bears lost weight during the study, up to 10 per cent of their body mass. That's despite the study taking place during the time when bears normally have their most successful hunting.  The Beaufort Sea has seen dramatic losses in sea ice. It's population of polar bears is known to be in decline. Pagano cautions the conclusions of his study are tempered by its small sample size and limited time span.

Andrew Derocher, a polar bear biologist at the University of Alberta, warned that there is wide variability between bears and different times of year.  "You might get a very different picture on weight gain from many more individuals," he said. Still, he said, the study backs up others looking at how polar bears are coping with shrinking sea ice, their favourite hunting platform. "Pretty much every component they've found was largely confirmatory in nature," Derocher said. "The true beauty of this work is that it's all integrated at once, in one place, in the same individual bears. You get a much more holistic perspective of the ecology of the bears."

source: https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/greenpage/high-tech-cameras-suggest-polar-bears-having-tougher-time-hunting-472189303.html

The Peregrine Chick:
From the Discovery Wildlife Park in Alberta - big cute factor, especially for a such a big bear!  :o ;D

Bear On Ice

Berkley The Bear has discovered a small stream covered in ice and decides to show off her ice skating skills. Berkley is a Kodiak brown bear cub who is currently living at Discovery Wildlife Park in Innisfail, Alberta, Canada. This video brought a smile to my face as it’s always fun to see wildlife playing in the great outdoors. If you enjoyed this video and want to learn something interesting watch Counting Bears In Canada.

source:  https://biggeekdad.com/2017/12/bear-on-ice/

burdi:
Rusty the Dog & Winnipeg Business Man Honoured for Service to St. Boniface Hospital

Written by Stephen Burns
Published: 15 December 2017

https://www.chvnradio.com/news/rusty-the-dog-winnipeg-business-man-honoured-for-service-to-st-boniface-hospital

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