CHAPTER III 



HOW WE HUNT POLAR BEARS 



Among land animals the polar bears are the most power- 

 ful of all beasts of prey. When full grown they may be 

 three times as big as the biggest African lion. Their 

 white color makes them difficult to see against a back- 

 ground of snow or ice, and few animals have more intelli- 

 gence. It is important therefore that the hunter (and 

 especially people like us who live by hunting) shall under- 

 stand their nature and habits thoroughly. 



Some say the Kadiak bears of southwestern Alaska 

 are larger than polar bears. Even if this be so, they are 

 far less dangerous, for a grizzly is chiefly vegetarian in his 

 diet. But polar bears live exclusively by hunting seals 

 and under certain circumstances they are likely to mis- 

 take people for seals and attack them on that basis. This 

 makes them, in my experience at least, far more danger- 

 ous than the grizzly. I have killed thirteen grizzlies, but 

 only for scientific purposes or else when badly in need 

 of food. I always avoid killing grizzlies when I can. 

 With all their strength and their splendid weapons of 

 teeth and claws they are generally retiring and will avoid 

 a man whenever they can. It is possible that polar bears 

 also would avoid men if they knew what they were. But 

 they so frequently mistake us for seals that it makes 

 little practical difference to us what they might do if they 

 really knew what we were. 



There is wide spread a curious belief about polar bears 



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