Swimming with Polar Bears

I'd bet my bottom dollar that 60 year-old Mark Dumas' favorite expression is "grin and bear it."

The reason? Well, Mark’s unusual, (and in my opinion—one of the most awe-inspiring professions), is bear handling. As a result of his passion for and understanding of these magnificent animals, and his fearless attitude toward the species, he has affectionately been dubbed as “the Grizzly Man”.

Residing in Abbotsford, British Columbia with his 60 year-old wife Dawn, whether the weather is balmy or a bit nippy, Dumas apparently doesn’t seem to care about the outside temperature.  It seems to never prevent him from jumping into his swimming pool with Agee, his 16 year-old female Polar bear to enjoy an invigorating morning dip. 

Although Agee weighs an impressive 800 pounds and if she wanted to would be more than capable of polishing off her human companion for dinner, Dumas considers Agee to be one of his most trusted furry friends. And the word “Trust” describing the relationship between both Agee and Mark is definitely a huge understatement. Dumas is reputed to the only man on the planet that can truly touch a polar bear; the largest land predator in the world. 

Since Mark and Dawn have owned Agee since she was only six weeks old, over the years a powerful bond has developed between them. While as an infant cub, bottle-fed Agee lived in their house, and even played with the family dogs, today, as an adult bear, Agee enjoys play-wresting with Mark, her adoring guardian and trainer.

But Agee is not just a beloved Pet. She has her own career for which the couple coaches her. The popular Polar bear often stars in high budget TV ads and makes appearances in movies.  When she was just six weeks old she was featured in the film, “Alaska” in 1995.

To meet Agee and Mark up close and personal, watch the delightful video uploaded to YouTube by barcroftmedia. I guarantee that you will be deeply moved by observing their incredibly intimate and trusting relationship, as well as the depth of affection that they share.

What were your feelings while watching this amazing video?  Share them with a comment