5 polar bears have surrounded a team of unarmed researchers at remote outpost, won't leave

[Liberal_in_LA]

Five hungry polar bears have surrounded a team of unarmed researchers at a remote outpost in northern Russia.




The bears have settled in the fields outside a weather station on the island of Vaygach in the Arctic Sea, preventing researchers from leaving the building to conduct their work, the World Wide Fund for Nature in Russia said in a statement.

The team, which consists of two meteorologists and an engineer, tried to scare them off with flares, but the bears were undeterred -- and the Russian WWF says the team has no other weapons at its disposal.

The bears sleep near the station and have been seen fighting with one another outside the building in recent days, one of the researchers at the station told Viktor Nikiforov, the head of the WWF Polar Bear Patrol project.

The presence of the bears means that the researchers have been unable to make their twice daily trip, several hundred meters from the weather station, to measure water temperatures in the sea.

"People living in the Arctic must be prepared to face with a polar bear," Nikiforov said in the statement. "However, the station staff have no weapons."





http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/02/europe/russia-polar-bears/index.html

[steve2470]

1. scary stuff indeed nt

[roguevalley]

18. hunger is the cause I am sure. They are going to disappear in the wild long before 2050

[steve2470]

19. yes I'm sure

Half-baked idea: Drop polar bear food by helicopter a half mile away while bringing the scientists some weapons just in case. Make a bread crumb trail to get them away. I have no idea if this would work or the logistical problems involved.

I hope the polar bears don't become extinct and that we reverse the global climate change trend permanently, asap.

[randome]

61. The researchers ARE polar bear food!

Sorry.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Don't ever underestimate the long-term effects of a good night's sleep.[/center][/font][hr]

[HassleCat]

2. The two bears are talking

"What's for lunch?"
"Looks like Russians. Russian scientists."
"Hmmm... I was hoping for Chinese."

[Liberal_in_LA]

3. I hope that door is strong enough to hold back bears

[uppityperson]

8. And I counter with 1 word.

windows

[Liberal_in_LA]

39. yeah. Perhaps they can form a barrier with that ladder. McGiver time!

[Skittles]

5. OH NO YOU DIDN'T

[longship]

12. "But then we'd be hungry again in half hour. I prefer Russian."

[yuiyoshida]

33. its sad to be a polar bear...

NO HONEY in the ARTIC...

[freshwest]

48. Beat me to it. I was going to say:

Bear on Left:

What do they taste like?

Bear on Right:

Heard they taste like chicken.

Bear on Left:

What's a chicken?

Bear on Right:

Who cares, they'll have to come out some time!

Yours is much better!

[Go Vols]

4. Cool Story

[snooper2]

6. maybe they should try to get them drunk

[A HERETIC I AM]

10. Yeah, but if they do that....

The bears will just hang around, telling long winded stories, tearfully lamenting loves lost.

And then the Karaoke starts.

Tipsy maybe, but drunk is asking for trouble.

[meow2u3]

44. Ya know how much vodka it takes to get polar bears drunk?

I don't think one bottle would be enough.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

56. I get hungry when I'm drunk.

Just what we don't need. Polar bears hungry for burritos.

[brooklynite]

7. Scratch 'em behind the ears...they love that

[A HERETIC I AM]

46. I don't think there is a mammal alive that doesn't

If you could find the right spot on a Blue Whale, it would stay put for a good skritch!

[KeepItReal]

9. Stephen Colbert tried to warn us!

The #1 Threat (time and time again).....

BEARS!

[pipoman]

11. Interesting that in 2015 people have to trek a hundred yarda

In the Arctic cold to put a thermometer in water daily...I can tell the temperature in my chicken house with a $28 remote thermometer...

[Marrah_G]

13. It's not wise to be in polar bear country without a rifle.

I love the bears and I really hope they don't decide to try and get into the cabin.

[bvar22]

25. From the looks of that cabin,

it wouldn't last long if the bears decide it is Dinner Time.


So far, (and this is just my guess) the Polar Bears don't see the Humans as food......yet.

[Marrah_G]

42. If they get hungry they will eat a human.

[bvar22]

47. Any bear will do that.

Your domestic house cat will also eat you if you die, or maybe even if you can't defend yourself and it gets hungry.


I, also, (read your post above) never go into BEAR country without protection.
I prefer a magnum revolver. If you have a slung rifle, or sit down at camp and lean your rifle against a tree,
it does you no good at all.

I probably won't shoot unless I am "in the grasp".
In that case, a rifle is worthless. I carry a magnum revolver on my belt where I can reach it with either hand.
No safety, no two handed cock, just point anywhere near the chest or underarm, and keep pulling the trigger.
It never gets in the way. I have never leaned it up against a tree, and usually (if in bear country) sleep with it on my belt. Try finding your rifle if a bear tears open your tent at 3AM.

Hiking with a rifle gets tiring after the first mile, and slung on the 2nd mile.
Plus, carrying a rifle negates the use of at least one hand and arm while hiking.
I like both hands free when I'm in the woods.

There are 1st person reports of Bear and Mountain Lion attacks online.
Most of the victims didn't know they were in trouble until they were "in the grasp".
This is especially true of big cats, who stalk from behind.
"I never knew he was there" seems to be the most common comment.

A Bear Charge will make noise and give you some time to get ready, but did you remember to take the safety off on your rifle? Do you have time to check? Are you sure you have a chambered shot ready?
....because you will only get one chance, if any.
None of these questions or anxiety apply to a revolver.

I also believe that healthy bears won't attack humans.
That is what everybody says, and I'll go along with that,
but what about Unhealthy Bears?

*Bears that are starving because of abscessed teeth, or just old, slow, and cranky.

*A young male who just lost a mating battle with an older, meaner bear will be very upset,
and probably kill the next thing that crosses his path

*Never get between a Mom Bear and her Cubs.... Good advice!
IF you always know where the Momma is, and the Cubs are.
How the hell does a hiker keep track of the location of all Mom Bears & their Cubs along their route?
You can walk right between them and won't know it until the Momma grabs you.

My wife and I love critters...all critters, and we keep a bunch ourselves on our very rural place in the Arkansas Mountains. We love life, and all living things (except mosquitoes). We work hard to make our little place a tribute to nature and life,.... but we don't believe in being stupid.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

64. What about bear spray?

I heard that's pretty effective, and doesn't kill the bear.

[awoke_in_2003]

67. My father took a Honda Goldwing

up the Al-Can. Before he did the trip he was told to get a gun. He said he has a 9mm, and was told the bears would laugh at him. For that trip he got a .44 Magnum. I am not sure if he still has it or not.

[cwydro]

14. I hope those bears will be ok.

It is THEIR habitat after all.

Shrinking everyday.

I wish no harm to the scientists either, but talk about piss poor planning...

[Oneironaut]

15. What if they only want a Coca-Cola?

[Art_from_Ark]

54. Or a Zero bar?

[sarisataka]

16. Just give the bears what they want

[Bucky]

17. at the risk of perpetuating negative stereotypes

I think we all know what their kind goes for

[yuiyoshida]

35. just saw your post...scrollup..

I also thought of pooh bear!

[Brother Buzz]

59. It's not Pooh Bear....

it's poo bear

[yuiyoshida]

65. POOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooooooooh!

Mine!!

[bvar22]

26. Give the Bears what they want?

My early education tells me that would be pic-a-nic baskets.

[steve2470]

20. in case you're dying of curiosity where Vaygach Island is....

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Vaygach+Island,+Nenets+Autonomous+Okrug,+Russia,+166744/@70.0305949,60.6861685,7.75z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x448a7ad0682c240d:0x44698580ae4802ea

It's a lonnnnng ways from Moscow and St. Petersburg.

[TwilightGardener]

21. How about a fresh pig or cow carcass dropped about a mile away?

They might go for that and leave the site alone for a while.

[steve2470]

22. +1 nt

[KamaAina]

32. Or fish

their natural prey.

[Marty McGraw]

36. Poor Piggies

I wonder if a day will ever come, that they realize how yummy they taste. What would that day look like.

in all honesty, I do treat pork as luxury food and really limit it to a couple of times a year ;-P

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

23. Let's hold the next GOP debate outside that hut

Putin can moderate.

[lostnfound]

24. Hmm. Are we sure these are scientists and not Putin opponents?

Maybe just another creative way the creep has of getting rid of opposition.

[sarisataka]

28. What did the poor bears

Ever do to you?

If the debate was there the bears would likely choke on the words they were hearing.

Worse if they actually ate Trump the bear would die in excruciating pain from the venom that flows in his veins.

[freshwest]

49. Hehehe! Excellent choice!

[randys1]

27. Sounds like "Zoo" James Patterson, also on CBS at the moment. Animals turn against us

[femmocrat]

30. My first thought as well!

Too bad we can't see their eyes up close!

[randys1]

31. LOL., my son read the book and told me about it so I am watching the series

BTW, if you are a TV person, one of the greatest series ever at the level of Breaking Bad


Netflix

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2707408/

[Marrah_G]

57. The book and the series are both really good :)

[Helen Borg]

29. Aren't there any dentists they could call for help?

[ruffburr]

34. Sorry-

I'm on the bears side, As a race we are driving them to extinction, So they are saying F--k You, God Bless them we deserve it, Sorry for the people but I really can't blame the Bears.

[WinkyDink]

38. The researchers are not their enemy.

[ruffburr]

41. I'm sure-

The bears really don't give a damn

[Historic NY]

37. They heard there were

Russian bears inside

[freshwest]

50. Oh, no. I didn't see your post.

[Brickbat]

40. Without rifles? WTF?

[Nye Bevan]

43. Such a "base under siege" scenario is very familiar to Doctor Who fans.

Of course with aliens instead of polar bears.

[Stinky The Clown]

45. The bears are pissed at all members of mankind for fucking up their world.

[steve2470]

51. I have to say, polar bears really are beautiful animals

Of course, if one was breathing fish breath on my face from 6 inches away, I don't think I'd say that.

[MADem]

52. Get out the boom box and blare some Beiber at them.

They'll run, screeching, with blood pouring from their ears!

[steve2470]

53. add Nickelback to that mix and they will NEVER come back!

[AtomicKitten]

55. They're hungry.

[randome]

62. How do you know? Maybe they're thirsty.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Don't ever underestimate the long-term effects of a good night's sleep.[/center][/font][hr]

[AtomicKitten]

63. No coke. Pepsi.

Cheeseburger, cheeseburger, cheeseburger, no coke, Pepsi.

[greytdemocrat]

58. Most unwise

To go into bear country unarmed. They'll never
make that mistake again...

[joeybee12]

60. Well, they were there first...and with global warming...

They're running out of habitat...they're going to be there for a while.

[lunatica]

66. I hope both bears and humans end up OK

I'm sure someone could dart the bears and transfer them to a wilder place. Maybe from a helicopter.