Polar bear playing with Huskies - !?!?!?

[superd222]

Stuart Brown striking images of a wild polar bear playing with sled dogs in Churchill, Manitoba.

The photographer was sure this was going to be the end of his huskies when the bear suddenly appeared.

Obviously a curious and well fed bear.

The Polar Bear returned every night that week to play with the dogs....

 

[coaken]

I guess nobody taught the bear not to play with it's food...

 

[MHUNT]

Go figure????????

 

[Pre-1898]

As they say, IF YA CANT BEAT THEM, JOIN THEM !

 

[beretta boy]

Smart dog ... given the size differential and potential for a dirt nap. I think
I'd suck up to the bear for a little play session too ... definitely wouldn't growl at the bear or try to bite him !!!

 

[shazam*]

yeah... smart bear... get the dogs used to him, then come back one night to eat the human...

 

[Boomer]

Norbert Rosing took the pics between 1989 and 1991. I was with him on several occasions over the years, I just can't remember which year those ones were from. There is a better pic with the dog's head completely in the bear's mouth. The two of them played like this for several weeks until the ice conditions allowed him to leave. The pics are from Norbert's first book, "World of the Polar Bear". They are mostly cutesy pictures though, (we’ve engaged in some lively discussions on that point) and don't show the other side of these guys. Sometimes a bear comes into the same group of dogs and decides tetherball is a nice way to pass the time.

 

[Boomer]

Smart dog ... given the size differential and potential for a dirt nap. I think
I'd suck up to the bear for a little play session too ... definitely wouldn't growl at the bear or try to bite him !!!

The dogs are chained up with just enough room between them that they can touch noses. When a bear walks between them he often gets it from both sides - and often I thinks that helps keeps the bears honest. There is no competition for food at this site, and that also has much to do with the dog's well being.

 

[723723]

...

 

[sherlockbonez]

I saw a documentary once where a bear came and torn the tail off one of the malamute. Then the owner came and shot the bear. This is much cuter tho.

 

[death-junky]

Wow neet pics! Never would have thought.

 

[Rylan]

Wow those are really interesting photos, that is one tame bear. If the liberals ever ban handguns... hello to my home defence weapon