03 June 2004 - 2:00 PM

Joined: 23 Mar 2004 Posts: 87

June 3, 2004 Thursday
2:00 PM Alaska time

Bear update – If you read today’s earlier journal entry, you will recall that we observed a polar bear playing with science equipment on the ice floe. It came back several times throughout the early morning hours. Each time it came back, we held our breath, wondering how much “playing” the instruments could take.

A helicopter was sent out after breakfast for a scheduled ice reconnaissance flight. For the scientists’ safety, it checked to see if there were any polar bear close to the Healy before anyone was set on the ice. When the helicopter reported the area safe, it continued on its flight and the scientists were allowed to retrieve and examine their equipment.

Unbelievably, the bear damage was slight. One buoy had bite marks and a small tear and one pole was slightly bent, but easily straightened. The expensive recording instruments and sediment traps were untouched; not even a sign of claw or bite marks could be found.

The only real damage from the polar bear’s investigation of the science equipment was the tear in a buoy.

To see photographs taken by Steve Roberts of UCAR/JOSS, click here.