Why Are Alaska Polar Bears Losing Their Fur?

Polar bears in Alaska are suffering from fur loss and skin lesions. Nine out of thirty-three polar bears that were examined during routine field studies near Barrow (Alaska’s northernmost city) during late March/early April were found to have alopecia (fur loss) and other skin lesions. This combination of diseases is rare to find in that many bears in such a small period of time. During summer 2011, 60 seals were found dead (another 75 seals diseased) due to a mysterious illness. The polar bears typically prey on these seals. Similar symptoms that the seals and the polar bears that are affected both show are labored breathing and fatigue. Scientists are trying to figure out whether or not the disease that the seals had is related to these symptoms that the polar bears are showing. Until the study is concluded, the cause is still unknown.

This relates to this course because it demonstrates how an ecosystem works. The polar bear is the predator and the seals are the prey. It shows how animals depend on each other in order to survive and how diseases could get transferred from a prey to a predator.

 I think that this is part of life. But it is also horrible. I think that if the scientists figure out what is causing the disease in seals, they will also figure out what is causing the hair loss and skin lesions in the polar bears. I’m willing to bet that this is related to the grasshopper effect. Barrow is the most northern city in North America. Pollutants transported due to the grasshopper effect end up here. Exposure to pollutants that the seals are not used to are probably causing this disease in the seals that is being transferred to the polar bears. Ecosystems aren’t meant to be completely healthy, but when I see stories like this where a disease is causing a lot of health problems it shows how important it is that the general public is aware of local problems that could cause bigger problems in places very far away from them.

Source: http://news.discovery.com/earth/why-are-alaska-polar-bears-losing-their-fur-120410.html#mkcpgn=rssnws1