The mysterious disappearance of a 12-foot polar bear 🐻‍❄️

ven•a•tic: fond of or living by hunting.

The weekend might not be here yet, but your favorite dispatch from the great outdoors is. 

So grab your coffee or whiskey (no judgement) and let's get caught up on the outdoor news and views from the past few days. 

Here's what caught our eye this week...

• Canadian caper- The mysterious disappearance of a 12-foot polar bear  🐻‍❄️

• Who let the dogs out - Unleashed dogs harassing elk at Colorado golf course 🦮

• It's better in the mountains- WV bear hunters slay last season 🐻

• Hungry wolves - With fewer elk, Yellowstone wolves are turning to bison 🦬

A CANADIAN CAPER
THE HEIST OF THE BIG POLAR BEAR

Standing watch over a historic former Canadian resort that has hosted the likes of Johnny Cash, among others, was the formidable Harry the polar bear. Standing nearly 12 feet in height, the taxidermied bruin had been a fixture at the former bar and resort now known as the Lionsheart Wholeness Center.

That is, until he was reported stolen one cold January night earlier this year.

In an event that has authorities scratching their heads with possible motives, it’s also one that’s damn near impossible to believe. Located on the 2nd floor of the resort, the stuffed polar bear weighed over 500 pounds and was secured to a building that boasted 24-hour security. 

If you happen to be thinking that all of this seems a tad overwhelming for a wellness center filled with stuffed animals, think again.

In August of 2023, investigators indicated that a pair of taxidermied raccoons were stolen during a similar break in. While it remains unclear as to whether these two cases are linked, RCMP investigators are taking both of them quite seriously...

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🦮 Who let the dogs out?: Unleashed dogs at Colorado golf course problematic for local elk.

🧸 Stand your ground: Florida's bear defense bill is ready the House floor.

🆕 New elk, who dis?: West Virginia welcomes 17 new elk to southern herd.

💯 Hundreds of elk: Washington state has one of the best places to view elk in the winter.

🐻 Mountain state bears: West Virginia bear harvest increases by 64% in 2023.

OH LOOK, MORE FOOD!
WITH ELK NUMBERS IN DECLINE, WOLVES ARE TURNING TO BISON

With Yellowstone’s elk herd disappearing faster than a case of PBR at grandpa’s deer camp, the park’s flourishing wolves have turned their attention to another, larger food source.

Elk populations in the Yellowstone ecosystem have taken a beating since the reintroduction of wolves back in the 90s. Since the gray wolf was reintroduced, elk populations have nosedived with a 60 percent reduction in numbers. Meanwhile,the park’s bison population has done the exact opposite, ballooning by nearly 800 percent.

Despite being a larger, more formidable opponent than elk, the American buffalo has attracted the attention of hungry wolves and predation events are becoming more and more common.

With a recent standoff showcasing a bull bison fending for himself against a pack of wolves attracting a lot of attention as of late, National Park Service biologist Dan Stahler, who acts as Yellowstone’s primary large carnivore specialist, says this was not an isolated event.

“Any wolf packs that are in the park, if they have bison in their territory, they will prey on bison,” he said. “Wolves are persistent. A bison kill is usually a long-lasting event, just because it’s so difficult, and it’s dangerous. We’ve documented wolves getting killed hunting bison over the years.”

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🐺 "I have a 12-gauge and a deer slug": Elk hunter has a bizarre standoff with a coyote.

🕶️ Heading south: Watch as Deputy picks up two Alaskan Kodiak bear cubs on a Florida highway?!?

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Why the hell do dogs bark at nothing? And what the hell are they dreaming about? The sh**tiest cars by decade. Ranking the best Super Bowl appetizers.  The coolest James Bond adventures are the ones you've never heard of.

EYE CANDY // ^{_{PICTURES > WORDS}}

Soon. 📸@timberproductions