Alaska Polar Bear Fur Loss Mystery

The cause is unknown and under investigation as is the die off of ringed seals (that investigation began in 2011). About 30% of polar bears sedated and observed had the problem. Skeptics might suspect its simply the developing chemical soupifying of the Arctic Ocean because of oil development and nuclear experimentation, hidden toxic waste dumping in Russia and so forth.

http://www.adn.com/2012/04/06/2410648/barrow-bears-losing-their-hair.html

Ursus maritimus is derived from the brown bear-especially Irish brown bear of yore. Eight of 19 Polar bear species are fading in numbers. If it gets too warm up north they may be compelled to return to breed with brown bear and struggle along with that species in its present and future battle to remain alive. There are comparatively few grizzly and brown bear in the 48 states today.

The U.S. Geologic Survey scientists looking at the Beaufort Sea bears should work with Russian scientists to check out Russian polar bears and the Canadian Arctic too in order to discover if its just an American pollution problem or some kind of general sick critter problem that could be fixed with special formula bear de-pest powder.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polar_bear