Roaming Polar Bears Spotted in Iceland

June 17, 2008 -- A polar bear has been discovered on Iceland, which is hundreds of miles from the threatened species' natural habitat, a local photographer said Tuesday.

"The bear is in the north of Iceland near the town of Saudarkrokkur," Rax Axelsson, a photographer with Iceland's newspaper of reference, Morgunbladid, said.

"The bear is living off of eggs and birds" and does not appear to be hungry, he added.

The bear was discovered by 12-year-old Karen Heljateynsdottir not far from her farm as she was out walking her dog on Monday.

"She saw something white and thought it was a plastic bag, and then she realized it was a polar bear. She ran home and she said she has never run so fast in her life," Axelsson said.

Polar bears are rare sightings on Iceland, since they have to swim hundreds of miles through icy waters to reach the island from their natural Arctic habitats.

The bear discovered on Monday, the second spotted on the island in the past two weeks, could lend credence to warnings from experts that climate change is creating a more perilous environment for the majestic Arctic animals.

A warming climate means the ice -- where the bears usually hunt their favorite prey, the seals -- is receding and literally melting under their paws, forcing them to swim ever greater distances.