A federal appeals court upheld on March 1 a law listing polar bears as a threatened species.

The LA Times reporting explained the particulars as –

… U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., upheld the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2008 decision to protect the animals because the dramatic loss of sea ice leaves them likely to become in danger of extinction.

There is of course the sea ice loss and the hunting activity that is adding to their plight. Despite these facts, the state of Alaska is fighting efforts to protect polar bears. In large part, the state is doing the bidding of the oil and gas industry – or should I say some big corporations are pulling the puppet strings and the state officials are dancing at the end of these strings.