October 19, 2007: Polar bear and the husky

Undertoad · 10-19-2007, 12:38 PM

No fewer than four of you sent this along, so although Snopes says it was collected in 2006, and confirms that it happened and was published last year, sometimes it takes a while for something to catch on, on the net.

Photographer Norbert Rosing was out on a photo session with these dogs, in the middle of nowhere, Hudson Bay in northern Canada - when a 1200 pound polar bear appeared on the scene.

But incredibly, the outcome wasn't an eaten dog. It was a half-hour session of... play.

Stuart Brown narrates a slide show of the event, in which he interprets the gestures of both animals as signals to play; the dog's mouth without fangs, the bear's ears back.

Snopes is, as Snopes must always be, a little skeptical that this was play - but dog owners have seen this sort of thing before in their dogs, and hey, if a polar bear is hungry and wants to eat, let's admit it, the dog is probably toast.

But the slideshow says the bear returned every night for a week to play again. I for one am encouraged to believe it was play; the modern dog, even the husky, is play-oriented. And why shouldn't the bear get something out of it? He's not going to be concerned for his safety, so why not the occasional social move?

Sundae · 10-19-2007, 12:45 PM

Without wanting to be guilty of anthromorphosis - that's play damnit!

Pie · 10-19-2007, 01:09 PM

That's incredibly cute!

lumberjim · 10-19-2007, 01:13 PM

there is a distinct lack of red snow in the vicinity. says play quite obviously.

ps....i wish i knew what accidental combination of keys leads to my replying to a thread halfway through typing it out.

Flint · 10-19-2007, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lumberjim

ps....i wish i knew what accidental combination of keys leads to my replying to a thread halfway through typing it out.

Thumb drifting over laptop mousepad accidentally moves cursor to the Submit Reply button, then you hit enter to end a paragraph and it posts?

ashaloo · 10-19-2007, 01:20 PM

I had to join just for this.

Its absolutely adorable

Tomtheman5 · 10-19-2007, 01:31 PM

I want to play with a polar bear!

(Why do I feel like the outcome would be different?)

Cloud · 10-19-2007, 01:32 PM

polar bears are amazing. For all their ferocity, which from all accounts is pretty genuine, they have a lot of play in them too. I've seen videos of them playing with stuff before.

lumberjim · 10-19-2007, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flint

Thumb drifting over laptop mousepad accidentally moves cursor to the Submit Reply button, then you hit enter to end a paragraph and it posts?

desktop. something to do with the tab button, i think.....or maybe ctrl when i go for a shift.

Sundae · 10-19-2007, 01:40 PM

Welcome to the Cellar, Ashaloo

10-19-2007, 01:41 PM

Wow... I would not have believed it... too cool.

Emrikol · 10-19-2007, 02:07 PM

Too bad they're not both bald

YellowBolt · 10-19-2007, 02:46 PM

I'm pretty sure it's Alt+S.

toranokaze · 10-19-2007, 02:47 PM

I have heard of bears playing before, although I have never seen it in the wild

lumberjim · 10-19-2007, 02:56 PM

TEST...Yup...ALT+S

thanks, Yb.

10-19-2007, 12:38 PM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	October 19, 2007: Polar bear and the husky No fewer than four of you sent this along, so although Snopes says it was collected in 2006, and confirms that it happened and was published last year, sometimes it takes a while for something to catch on, on the net. Photographer Norbert Rosing was out on a photo session with these dogs, in the middle of nowhere, Hudson Bay in northern Canada - when a 1200 pound polar bear appeared on the scene. But incredibly, the outcome wasn't an eaten dog. It was a half-hour session of... play. Stuart Brown narrates a slide show of the event, in which he interprets the gestures of both animals as signals to play; the dog's mouth without fangs, the bear's ears back. Snopes is, as Snopes must always be, a little skeptical that this was play - but dog owners have seen this sort of thing before in their dogs, and hey, if a polar bear is hungry and wants to eat, let's admit it, the dog is probably toast. But the slideshow says the bear returned every night for a week to play again. I for one am encouraged to believe it was play; the modern dog, even the husky, is play-oriented. And why shouldn't the bear get something out of it? He's not going to be concerned for his safety, so why not the occasional social move?

10-19-2007, 12:45 PM	#2
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	Without wanting to be guilty of anthromorphosis - that's play damnit! __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

10-19-2007, 01:09 PM	#3
Pie Gone and done Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 4,808	That's incredibly cute! __________________ per·son \ˈpər-sən\ (noun) - an ephemeral collection of small, irrational decisions The fun thing about evolution (and science in general) is that it happens whether you believe in it or not.

10-19-2007, 01:13 PM	#4
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	there is a distinct lack of red snow in the vicinity. says play quite obviously. ps....i wish i knew what accidental combination of keys leads to my replying to a thread halfway through typing it out. __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

10-19-2007, 01:32 PM	#8
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	polar bears are amazing. For all their ferocity, which from all accounts is pretty genuine, they have a lot of play in them too. I've seen videos of them playing with stuff before. __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

10-19-2007, 01:20 PM	#6
ashaloo Kinda New Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1	I had to join just for this. Its absolutely adorable

10-19-2007, 01:31 PM	#7
Tomtheman5 Antagonistic Antagonist Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Boston Posts: 22	I want to play with a polar bear! (Why do I feel like the outcome would be different?)

10-19-2007, 01:40 PM	#10
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	Welcome to the Cellar, Ashaloo __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

10-19-2007, 01:41 PM	#11
rkzenrage Guest Posts: n/a	Wow... I would not have believed it... too cool.

10-19-2007, 02:07 PM	#12
Emrikol Compatriot-at-Arms Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 107	Too bad they're not both bald

10-19-2007, 02:46 PM	#13
YellowBolt I lurk with the best of them Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: not close to philadelphia. :( well, not THAT close. Posts: 146	I'm pretty sure it's Alt+S.

10-19-2007, 02:47 PM	#14
toranokaze I'm still a jerk Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Little Mexico Posts: 1,817	I have heard of bears playing before, although I have never seen it in the wild

10-19-2007, 02:56 PM	#15
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	TEST...Yup...ALT+S thanks, Yb. __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

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