Elderly polar bears are likely to more persistent but less effective. Some Greenland researchers were once persistently stalked by a really ancient female who subsequently proved to be more than 30 years old. Skin and bones, worn down teeth and crippled with severe arthritis, she was long past catching a seal, so she hobbled along slowly and painfully after the researchers. They finally shot her after catching her attempting to surreptitiously open the door to their cabin. They didn't want to wait and see if "Granny" would get lucky, and they figured they were doing the starving, pathetic old thing a favor. This is another hint. Keep away from old bears, other polar bears do. Even the alpha males avoid the places where the grouchy, irritable and very unfriendly elders have decided to take their rest.
Researchers have often found the frozen remains of either pathetic young unsuccessful adolescent bears or elderly bears where they made a day-bed for themselves, lay down and quietly waited for death to come. Before they reach such a state of calm resignation, they can get ferocious indeed in trying to obtain food to stay alive. One bear was observed jumping onto the back of a whale. The whale dove down, but soon surfaced with the bear still hanging on and attempting to bite off a mouthful of blubber. Bears actively hunting out on the ice are significantly more predatory and dangerous than those whiling away their time on shore, as Eskimos know. During bad winter storm times, food competion between bears and men would get deadly serious. The polar bears would attempt to steal huskies and waylay travellers, or break in to igloos where Eskimos were sleeping. Even worse, they would sniff out the precious food caches where the Eskimos stored up supplies against hard times and raid them, potentially dooming the whole village to starvation. On the other hand, if the Eskimos successfully hunted the great bears, they could have plentiful food for weeks. A single big bear could save the whole village.
