Did Global Warming contribute to the fact that Polar Bears have increased 5 times in population since 1972?

Question

and don't tell me the polar bears have been DECLINING in population. It has been widely reported lately by nearly every news agency about the increase in Polar Bear populations from less than 5,000 in 1972 to over 25,000 today.

Answer 1

No, government protection from hunting is what has increased their populations.

Answer 2

Bob is once agian living in the dream world. During the 70's the polar bear population was around 5,000 because of hunting. Once they controlled the hunting, the population of poalr bears is around 25,000 now. That means that during the entire AGW myth, the population expanded 500%.

http://www.newsbusters.org/node/11879

Answer 3

All I know is that cooking Polar Bears over a charcoal fire is proof that burning fossil fuels kill polar bears.

Please pass me the steak sauce.

*Edit* To the thumbsdowners: "What? I said *please*."

Answer 4

Man made climate change is socialist propaganda, Al Gore is making millions off the suckers who buy into it.  For millions of years the climate has changed on Earth, way before man was even around.  Our elected, corrupt, government is taking our freedoms one step at a time and most people do not care.  Wake up before it is to late.

Answer 5

The population hasn't increased 500%.  Proof below.

The data on this from different sources has been conflicting.  Some says the population is increasing, some decreasing.

But the scientists at the Fish and Wildlife Service looked at ALL the data, and decided the polar bear was threatened with extinction by global warming.

The decision was announced by the Secretary of the Interior, who works directly for Bush.  Given that this decision is liable to make things difficult for oil companies (they're suing), you can be assured that the Secretary would not have accepted this decision from the scientists, unless the scientific facts left him with no choice.

Bottom line - they didn't increase 5 times in population.  That data is flat wrong.

bob326 - Note my choice of words carefully.  

CrazyConservative - Who should people believe?  The scientists at the Fish and Wildlife Service, or the right wing fanatics at Newsbusters?  Pretty easy choice for me.  Note also that the article you cite says nothing at all about the mythical 500%.

Answer 6

What is Global Warming?   It is pretty darn cold up here in Yellowknife!

Haha… Global warming...

Answer 7

I saw your question and popped in to see your links.

There aren't any.

I've got some if you'd like to research this properly.

Answer 8

That's a myth.

"It isn’t hard to find media reports stating that polar bear populations are at historic highs – up to 25,000 now from a low of 5,000 or so in the 50’s or 60’s. This gets a chuckle from Nick. Look in any of those reports for the source of their conjecture. The fact is nobody was even paying attention to polar bear numbers in the 50’s or 60’s, much less conducting a scientifically sound census survey. So where do they come up with those numbers? Hmm… Good question.  

In the 50’s and 60’s polar bear were being shot, killed, hunted down wholesale. It has only been within the past couple of decades that scientists, government leaders, and wildlife managers have realized that it might be prudent to put some limits on the carnage to assess what it is we have in the way of polar bears and to begin serious, ongoing scientific study of them.

What happens when uncontrolled hunting is stopped? Gosh, it seems there may have been some recovery in polar bear populations due to the alleviated stress from hunting. (Incidentally, 500 bears are still harvested every year in Canada.)

When you hear anyone authoritatively pronouncing that polar bear numbers have recovered from 5000 to 25,000 just know that they’re simply guessing. Right off the bat a reason to question the veracity of their argument."

Answer 9

Bob said:

"The data on this from different sources has been conflicting. Some says the population is increasing, some decreasing.

But the scientists at the Fish and Wildlife Service looked at ALL the data, and decided the polar bear was threatened with extinction by global warming.

The decision was announced by the Secretary of the Interior, who works directly for Bush. Given that this decision is liable to make things difficult for oil companies (they're suing), you can be assured that the Secretary would not have accepted this decision from the scientists, unless the scientific facts left him with no choice.

Bottom line - they didn't increase 5 times in population. That data is flat wrong."

The reason the Polar Bear was listed was that the models showed that bear populations could potentially start declining. Right now, the Bear population is stable.

Answer 10

and you think 25 000 is a healthy population for a slow breeding, top of web, predator species? especially one that is only just starting to recover from near extinction from over-hunting, and has built up again from a 'pinch point' of just a few thousand?

Answer 11

Sure, they are swimming for the health benefits.

Answer 12

the numbers I saw were 12,000 in 1960  - to 20,000-25,000 last year.

that's about a double in population.  Well well, looks like a very strange decline indeed.

However in the past several years - certain areas have had significant losses (30 percent or more) in population due to reductions in sea ice the bears use for hunting grounds.  Other geographical areas listed in source below: Polar Bears apear to be doing fine.  

Even more interesting is that the Bush Administration is putting the Polar Bears on the Endangered Species Act.  So if you have a problem, you might want to write to the Secretary of the Interior or his boss - The Shrub! - for making a bit too much out of this.  Next thing you know he'll say something really inteligent like - - - maybe - - - the whole dern Globe is warming!  lol -  strange days!

Answer 13

If it's widely reported why don't you give us a reliable source or two?