[a fool in paradise]

and drowning as they must swim further and further to find food

Um, they swim underwater...

Why is it we only hear about da Bears? If their food is getting scarce, it is either because there are more bears feeding on available prey or the numbers of seals and other things are also decreasing.

[redhead]

"and drowning as they must swim further and further to find food ----- Um, they swim underwater..."

True. Since their main prey is seals (which spend almost all of their time underwater) it is natural that the bears be equipped to go where their food is. Incidentally, there are polar bears stalking the guys on the North Slope. Just thought you might like to know. My son works on a 30-acre manmade island up there, and there are all kinds of warnings about being away from the buildings, and bears everywhere. Polar bears do not hibernate, so they are active all winter, as well as all summer. Why should they go swimming for a seal if they get the idea they can find a nice tasty human walking around without protection? Polar bears are the only known predator in North America that stalk humans for food. (or, so I've been told)