E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSWildlife experts are studying whether fur loss and open sores detected in nine polar bears in recent weeks is widespread and related to similar incidents among seals and walruses.
USGS
This polar bear was sedated to study its fur loss and oozing sores on the left side of its neck.
The bears were among 33 spotted near Barrow, Alaska, during routine survey work along the Arctic coastline. Tests showed they had "alopecia, or loss of fur, and other skin lesions," the U.S. Geological Survey said in a statement. "The animals were otherwise healthy in appearance and behavior."
Blood and tissue samples were collected from the sedated polar bears to see if the symptoms are related to those seen in ringed seals and walruses.
Patchy hair loss has been seen before in polar bears, but the high prevalence in those spotted recently and the earlier seal and walrus incidents raise a concern, Reuters quoted Tony DeGange, the chief biologist for the USGS in Alaska, as saying.
"There's a lot we don't know yet," he said, "whether we're dealing with something that's different or something that's the same."
"Observations last summer of unusual numbers of ringed seals hauled out on beaches along the Arctic coast of Alaska, and later on, of dead and dying seals with hair loss and skin sores, led to declaration of an Unusual Mortality Event by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on December 20, 2011," the USGS stated.
"Based on observations of Pacific walruses with similar skin lesions at a coastal haulout in the same region during fall, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service joined the UME investigation," it added.
Since then, it noted, "ice seals with similar symptoms have also been reported in adjacent regions of Canada and Russia and from the Bering Strait region."
While no dead polar bears have been found, 60 seals and several walruses were found dead. Many of the diseased seals and walruses were juveniles and had trouble breathing.
"Despite extensive testing for a wide variety of well known infectious agents, the cause(s) of the observed condition in walruses and ice seals remains unknown," the USGS stated. "Advanced testing techniques for unidentified infectious agents is continuing as well as further testing for potential causes including man-made and natural biotoxins, radiation, contaminants, auto-immune diseases, nutritional, hormonal and environmental factors."
Reuters noted that preliminary studies do not support a theory that the disease is due to contamination from the tsunami-wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan.
A nearly bald ribbon seal pup found a month ago near Yakutat was so sick it had to be euthanized.
Polar bears, ice seals and walruses have all seen a decline in the seasonal Arctic sea ice on which they depend.
Polar bears are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The Pacific walrus andringed, bearded and ribbon seals are being considered for ESA listing.
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News:
- Republican senator calls Obama 'stupid'
- Pair arrested in connection with deadly Tulsa shooting spree
- 1 killed after Texas beach party turns violent
- 'Very fortunate': Nobody reported missing after Navy jet crash
- Teen student dumps ex-teacher after his arrest
- Texas teen to become first American to graduate from Bolshoi
- Cops: Dad dies after shielding son, 8, from bullets
Leave a Comment:
If it was disease, why would it be in many different species? Contaminants and pollution are more likely culprits. Wonder what kind of 'research' that 'scientific' research station is doing up there?
Another trillion dollars that could have been spent on grannies prescription drugs...
Does make one wonder if this is a natural occurring phenomenon or something human caused.
I'm sure the scientist and biologist will come to some kind of conclusion on that, then the politics will come out about whether the "experts" are experts or just serving an political agenda, much like the debate on global warming has went.
Either way it is the animals that lose out in the end.
It definitely isn't caused by us humans, how could it be caused by us. It is a natural occurrence that happens in nature from time to time. Our pollution and garbage is completely safe for all living things on this planet and we need more nuclear facilities for clean efficient energy. Yeah right, I always feel bad for the animals, they suffer so we can thrive and then when we take a break from our achievements we can't even enjoy the green earth that we were blessed to have because of the blight that we spread on top of our planet.
I think it's plausable that it's natural, a spate of disease that's exploded (as it said this has been happening, but not to such a degree) due to a variation or mutation of the virus that these animials haven't the capacity to immunize themselves against. But, this may be due to radio active, man involved chemical factors that either has suppressed the animals immune systems or has unnaturally caused viral mutations.
In years before man, natural selection, extinctions certainly occurred; more species have vanished from Earth prior to us doing our damage. Should we intervene if it's natural? Some would debate, but given the area, the testing done in prior years, pollutive additions.... we may no know in time, so I'd put my money on putting $$ into this before it's too late.
As to grandma's pill and the whole 'people first', start talking to your legislature, both sides of the aisle (yes, Blue and Red to blame and suck). The med industry isn't any happier about the lack of real representation and legislation than any of us; corporate government has to go, back to America first, real American capitalism and representation by actual Americans, not million dollar corporate shills that have generations sitting on the Hill.
Other animals shouldn't suffer because of American human animals lethargy, divided distractive infighting. It's more than just our responsibility to use our intelligence to help these animals; it may well be blood on our hands.
Maybe the problem is being caused by the constant drugging and testing of these animals.
Well, it seems that many Alaskan seal are dying and exhibiting the same symptoms. Symptoms of radiation burns and radiation sickness. The media and the governments downplayed the massive amounts of radiation that entered the Pacific as a result of the Fukushima disaster. These animals live in the ocean, in constant exposure to the radiation that fell into the Pacific. Wonder what they'll claim if humans start getting sick. Of course humans don't live in frigid waters but it is also affecting animals in Hawaii.
http://www.naturalsociety.com/is-fukushima-radiation-responsible-for-mysterious-alaskan-seal-deaths/
Interesting, many articles on the deaths of seals, walrus, polar bears and other animals and they are being found in Russia and other areas now. All indicators point to radiation poisoning. Did a search and there's lots and lots of articles on the topic. It's far more widespread and the consensus is rapidly pointing to Fukushima disaster.
mygirl1-that was my first thought. If the ghost ship traveled to our coast and then up past Canada to Alaska, it would seem likely that the radiation did too, contaminating fish and wildlife along the way. Of course I don't know...but it sure seems likely.
This could very well be radiation poisoning from Fukushima power plant. Japan has been doing a wonderful job keeping that out of the news.
Radiation poisoning or some other contaminate. If it's happening across different species then it's probably not a natural occurrence and we should be looking into some kind of man made toxin or toxic condition.
It appears that we could have saves billions of dollars, and just let the bloggosphere determine the cause...(hint) radiation sickness could have been confirmed in hours (hint,hint)
Marine biologists in EU are theorizing it could be the oil leakages,fires when fire retardants/chemicals are being added to stop the leaks/extuingish fires. Something is sticking into their fur/skin (first i thought Thallium from pesticides) but the trouble inhaling/breathing/open sores is biochemical- the debris from Fukusima how many millions of tons drifting ashore with dead fish/marine life. Can't they test for (bio)chemicals/thorium/deuterium etc?
Cesium 137 and 134 radiation affects are currently being examined. The problem with the testing data is that it is comparing current radiation levels rather than the levels existing at the time the largest releases of radiation were occurring. The other problem is that it affects more than just pinnipeds, as is happening with polar bears. Radiation exposure over time will not set off monitoring equipment, and...generally scientists will rely on known exposure contaminants coming from a known source happening at the time. Rather than burying contaminated material, the Japanese government is combining debris from both irradiated and non-irradiated sources and burning it.
When you realize the toxic soup that is floating in our oceans, everything from fertilzer runoff to oil spill retardants to pathogens found in kitty litter, it's a wonder more animals aren't succumbing. If anyone really trusts governments to give precise data, unbiased data, then they are rather naive. I will wait for unbiased studies, if such a thing is possible.
Ok let send the animal rights groups from peta down to alf have them find out went wrong.
It's the ALIENS I tell ya. It's them ALIENS. They be tired of us gettin on Mars and now they comin back at us fer it.
Don't think I'm going to get too worked up over this. 60 dead seals and several dead walruses. Looking at the map of the Pacific ocean currents if the hair loss and sores were caused by radiation from Japan, as proposed by many of the posters here, the effects would have also been seen in Southern California and along the Pacific coast of Northern Mexico.
Could be results from some testing process they use to search for oil. Could be a result of chemicals used in the past to clean up oil spills. Could be remnants of radioactive material floating over from Japan. Could be caused by natural man made pollution we put into the atmosphere. Could be due to some weird form of radiation exposure caused by the solar flares that were happening recently. Could be disease among the species. Could be lots of things but chances are,,, after scientist discover what the real cause is, we will most likely be kept in the dark.
I'm not paranoid at all, I promise. o.O
that's what happens when wild animals come in to contact with liberal fools.
Has it occurred to you that if this is not environmental it could be zoonotic? If it is some kind of contagious illness or infection it has already shown cross-species contagion.
It's called the mange!
This is just the natural cycle of nature that has been happening for millions of years. Most species have gone extinct over time. The dinosaurs went extinct without human interference. These Polar Bearasaurs are also slated for extinction soon. Nothing to do with human activity at all, same as global heating.
By the way, if you are not sure if this is sarcastic or not, I can't enlighten you because I am not sure either.
It's obviously from tranquilizers and sedatives.. leave these guys alone!
Is this going to be treated the same as the Climate Change debacle ?
no, not since the lastest studies have shown that the Environmentalists are the cause of "Global Warming"...It is "Bush's Fault" will have to suffice
no, it will gradually disappear. but given what you see revealed in missus finicky's and other posts here, the conclusion is we will end up wiping out most everything and then ourselves. With the possible exception of ten or twenty million chinese. But that's a long way off.
the church of global warming doesn't need an excuse. remember that when the liberal elites fly all over the world to tell other people to stop flying.
What I get from this story is polar bear is shedding which may or may not be normal. Well, its spring ... I'm going with normal. I hope we are not spending a lot of money on this resaerch.
Right. Because oozing sores always accompany shedding. The money is spent to better understand odd phenomena which may have an impact on humans. You people whining about money always forget that when indicators in nature point to a harmful trend they are often our first warning signs. What if it's a problem with the food chain, as in nice Arctic cod? You want a plate of that after discovering it causes distress in wildlife?
I only have one word for you; CLOWN!!
I doubt we'll ever know the truth; too much money at stake! It sounds like some sort of polluting waters that these animals were caught in.
Bill H: how do you explain the ozzing sores? It's one thing for an animal to shed; I've never seen them develop sores while doing it.
They live in and near Arctic waters, the last thing that they would be doing evolutionarily is shedding(bald spots), even during summer the water is still frigid.
Yes, because everyone knows that the marine biologists are on the payroll for (insert whoever you think did it here). Don't be ridiculous. The scientists who are researching this aren't covering anything up. I do agree that you will never know though. When they finally identify whatever it is causing this if it isn't news worthy it won't be a headline.
If it's related to undersea drilling, we're all stranded on an ice floe in a warm sea surrounded by sharks, because no one will admit it.
And I agree with the person who commented above, that it must be pollutants because it is affecting different animals. Disbelieve all you want about the 2012 prophecies... which, by the way, are mentioned in the lore of MANY indigenous people across the world, not just the Mayans.... but man's folly of disregarding Nature to embrace greed and gluttony is already written in the sea, on the land, in the wind, and even in the sky.... where objects are falling from decaying orbints without direction or a projected path.
Except the Mayans didn't prophecy anything about the year 2012. It just happens to be the time when the Mayan calendar that was carved into stone ran out of space; if the stone would have been larger, it could have contained another 500 years. The Mayan calendar counted age in days, not months, seasons or years; the stone calendar just run out of space for more days.
Never know the truth? More carbon dioxide = greenhouse effect. Simple as that.
You know what else warms the planet? The sun.
Bill why dont you and the other greenies see how long you can hold your breath, if you do it long enough you will help decrease the CO2 expelled, reduce the amount of oil you would of used, as well as help with the overpopulation before that becomes your next big thing to yell about.
I would believe it is from what has entered the ocean after the earthquake and tsunami, think of all the different crap that blended together and followed the ocean currents around just like the fishing trawler did.
Despite what article states, these are OBVIOUS signs of Radiation Burn from the Fukushima meltdown. That is why they occur the same in similar species- Friends of mine in Hawaii have lost pets to the radiation within 2-3 months of the Tsunami (lymphoma, other cancers), don't believe this media blackout- these symptoms will start occurring in humans soon.
There is logically more to come from the nuclear disaster we are encouraged to forget...
What's funny is as a 30 something I grew up during the Cold War. They hammered what radiation did to a living thing into our heads at an early age.
This is more pathetic than the Olympics when the Chinese would march out with those giant, awkward banners to block ugly incidents.
Radio,
At 30 something you did not grow up during the cold war. I'll bet you never did a duck and cover drill. Niether did my children. During your time in school it was all about the evils of sex drugs and rock and roll.
Yup - there's definitive proof! You have "friends in Hawaii" who lost pets to cancer. Cancer in Hawaii = Contamination from Japan. No doubt about it... the scientific method is alive and well. Nice rational thinking there, Greens. I think the really amazing part is that you actually seem to think you have "friends." Do they have opposable thumbs?
"OBVIOUS", is that right? Would you please post your CV or credentials so we poor dumb souls can understand what is obvious to you?
HanRATTy-The obviously rude and nasty attitude is the result of your polluted soul.(sarc)
Do you really think that the radiation level could be high enough to cause cancer in two months yet be "hidden" from the public? There would be a huge die off carpeting the Pacific. I've spent years in the Arctic and I've seen Bears with all kinds of missing fur, same goes for seal. And since bear eat seal it wouldn't be hard to share a parasite. Why do people who know nothing about radiation or wildlife draw "obvious" conclusions when they should just keep watching their tvs. Why are they so worried about contamination from Japan yet think nothing of sticking a bluetooth inside their ear. I'm sure that low band radio wave a 1/2 inch from your brain isn't doing anything at all, and Greens I'm not sure you can spare anymore cells.
Inclined to go with radiation poisoning! Hair loss and open sores are symptomatic.
Not that polar bears aren't cute in a coke commercial, but has MSNBC heard about Oblame-a trying to usurp our constitution because of his ignorance of the way our government works? Constitutional Law Professor? Right!
Let's see if we can make this clear CLOWN. This thread is about polar bears. I'd like to know your creds about the Constitution. Oh, that's right...you have none. Now go back to mommies basement and behave.
I wonder if in the end we will find out radiation as the cause or some other environmental toxin is responsible.
We are poisoning our world and the animals are suffering. We humans are suffering as well, but there are vested interests with deep pockets who do not want to accept responsibility for what is happening so there will be much misinformation and misdirection to divert suspicion.
We humans will suffer as well as the animals from what we are doing, but the animals cannot stop us from poisoning our environment -- only we humans can. But do we have the willingness to do it? There are those who are willing to stop the insanity of polluting our planet, but the powerful corporations do not.
Gilboagirl;
Have you ever seen a coyote with mange disease? Duh!
Fallout from japan loss of hair and sores?.
"Reuters noted that preliminary studies do not support a theory that the disease is due to contamination from the tsunami-wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan."
I'm sure they developed their radiation sickness from natural isotopes in shellfish. Japan is no way involved! No sir!
Maybe the diminishing ice is stressing the animals out so much that they're losing their hair. Or they're just shedding because spring is here..Obama should cure them..
well now since its pre existing they will be able to get Obamacare
Space aliens experimenting again
Being special and refusal of cause always is the easy way out .
I'm going with radiation poisoning from the Japan disaster and agree we're not getting enough information regarding the after math of that. The fur loss and open sores don't sound like something caused from the effects of global warming unless their diet has become so drastically changed because they no longer have access to their main food source. What ever the cause it is very sad to see this happening to all these beautiful creatures.
Blueskygal
Check out enenews.com and fukushimadiary.com for current info on the ongoing nuclear crisis at Fukushima.
Oh my God! Here's a wild thought... How about we wait to hear from the USGA scientists when they've done more exhaustive tests before you all go running off to your Facebook pages and declare the END OF THE WORLD is upon us. Jeez, what a bunch of nutbars!
Maybe the veterinarians are using dirty needles when they test all of these animals. And they're spreading diseases in the process.
Radiation poisoning is easily checked with blood tests, hence the statement that it is not radiation linked. Many diseases cross similar species a good example is mange or how about avian flu? Many bacteria can cause massive damage in small colonies and take a long (up to 6 months) time to isolate.
Wow! What a tremedous demonstration of restraint. I expected global warming to be the cause but they didn't do it. They didn't go there. I'm impressed. Stay tuned for a billion dollar grant from Obama to solve this problem...
As Forest Gump said: "Stupid is as stupid does!" Since when does the POTUS give grants?
Crawl back in your whole, yee who has not a clue.
Hey Mike, it's spelled 'hole'.... As in; "MikeO76 is an a-hole."
Article stated, "Polar bears, ice seals and walruses have all seen a decline in the seasonal Arctic sea ice on which they depend."
The Sea Ice levels in the Arctic have returned to NORMAL (33+year) levels this time of year, just like it did in 2010 & 2009... see http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/03/18/sea-ice-news-volume-3-2/#more-59466
We have not been very good stewards of our planet.
It doesn't help with the buffonery-based political organizations going out of their ways to exploit and/or destroy everything in nature they touch.
If the higher mammals go the way of the dinosaurs more than likely ALL the higher mammals go. Including us.
I wonder if the seals and walsuses were black, and if so, were they wearing hoodies? Did these "white" bears have anything to do with the deaths of these "non-white" species?
Well, I'm sure that no matter what these scientists find, there will no doubt be "conclusive" evidence that it is "all Bush's fault".
lets sink a few more contaminated vessels off the coast line .. see if that helps the situation.
Those who drill for oil in the Artic seem to lack accountability, yet, try to point to the USA as the wrong doers. Like Global Warming is the only blame. These other countries allow huge oil spills to linger. Do we wonder why the ice melts? It is not just the contamination of the nuclear mishap in Japan. It is the world's failure to monitor the oil spills that occur across the globe, demanding swift actions to these careless actions. There seem to be no stewardship, enough care, to be cautious with these fragile environments.
Why did all of those Snowy Owls fly so far South? Their food supply probably was annihilated.
When will we start being better stewards, and start realizing that these countries will ruin the world with such selfish needs for world domination?!
We are in trouble. We are enslaving ourselves to their oppressive ideals.
Unfortunately, innocent creatures suffer by our lack of a backbone to stand up to these bullies of the earth.
They take and grab and annihilate, all for their own selfish needs.
My heart breaks over the loss of these creatures, from the tiniest to the largest.
We need to be better stewards, or, we will suffer the same fate.
Many may have already.
We may just be in denial about the reality of what the contaminants impact.
How will our grandchildren's survive life when we kill the possibilities with such high odds of afflictions?
Humans are the cause undoubtedly. Deny, deny and continue to deny but my money is on radiation. Inter species problems is not natural.
It could be they dont have access to healthcare......or skin care products.
jerhedd, problems between species is not natural? What about swine flu, bird flu, aids, parasites, etc,etc,etc. The list goes on and on. It must be nice to make up the facts to fit your thoughts as you go.
this is so very sad for these wonderful creatures ! and there are so many people who would sacrifice these animals for profit ! what is wrong with humanity ? please remember that as goes the anmal world ,so goes the human world ! and soon all life disappears from earth !
when the last animal dies, when the seas are poisoned, when the air is unbreathable, when the water is undrinkable, do you think that then finally man will learn?
You need to look at the bright side. In a few million years these polar bears will be oil..
When the still sea conspires an armor
And her sullen and aborted
Currents
breed tiny monsters,
True sailing is dead.
Awkward instant
And the
first animal is jettisoned
Legs furiously pumping
Their stiff green
gallop,
And heads bob up
Poise
Delicate
Pause
Consent
In mute
nostril agony
Carefully refined
And sealed over.
The Doors
Men will never learn we think we r so smart monkeys are smarter what other living breathing thing has ever destroyed its habitat in history and we keep doing it for the love of man made paper called money to distinguish wealth between the rich and poor