Wednesday 16 February 2011

Wandering polar bears

We had Friday evening a walk to Hiorthhamn over Advendfjorden with dogs. Next morning we heard that there have been a polar bear visiting the dog yard. He were chased to the fjord. On that evening we didn't have our trip over the fjord, but day after we were back on our normal routines. Then we saw that the polar bear had followed our spoor from Hiorthhamn all the way over Adventfjorden close by Snøskooterutleie (SSU) and turned then to the dog yard. Here in the picture you can see our steps on left, a track of a dog on the middle and our white companion on right.

Spoor of our friend.
His footprint is on a respectful size.
Ammunition cal 30-06.

Closer to Hiorthhamn we saw that our unseen companion weren't the only bear around - there were also the bigger fellow around.
"Our bear" goes towards the town, the other track continues to the Advendtdalen.
After that first bear there have been several bear observations around. A bear has been chased away from Bjørndalen and once more from the dog yard. Now there is a polar bear track just some hundred of meter from SSU. And it's not only Longyearbyen in Spitsbergen-island where bears have been visiting: Also our Russian neighbours in Barentsburg have got a visit. There a bear broke a traffic sign warning about polar bear danger. Isfjorden Radio have also got a white-fured visitors. In Hornsund a passer-by killed one dog and two got injured.

Even though we know there is scrappy wanderers around, we go anyhow outside of the town on our trips. But of course, now we're extra observant for unwanted visitors. Usually we're having only with a signal pen on our short trips outside of the town, but now we're happily carrying also signal pistol with us as an addition for a rifle. Anyhow, we're also having dogs with us, so we're counting for that they notice first spooky things in the darkness.

2 comments:

  1. Hui! Luulisin, että jälkihavainnot saivat sydämen sykkimään jossain määrin nopsempaan...?

    Tulin hakemaan blogistasi vahvistusta kevään lähenemiselle. Täällä(kin?) kun on pakkasta n. 30C, niin innolla lämpenemistä jo odotellaan. :) Arvasin että VALOkuvia täältä löytyisi - ja löytyihän niitä.

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  2. Kyllä se aina sykähyttää ku jälkiä löytyy odottamattomista paikoista!

    Mie oikeestaan vähä luulen, että teillä on tainnu olla siellä etelässä "kunnollisempi" talvi mitä meillä täällä :)

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