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The Real Story of the Polar Bear in a UVM Science Hall Starts With Two Montpelier Agents Undercover in the Arctic
A polar bear has been hanging out in a UVM science hall for decades. Subscribe He’s a full-grown male, standing behind glass on an artificial iceberg in the lobby of the University of Vermont’s Marsh Life Science Building in Burlington. Most Vermonters have no idea he’s there. Students who asked about him heard he came from Canada. A poacher killed him, the story went, federal officers seized the hide at the Vermont border, and the government gave him to UVM on “indefinite loan.” A UVM biology professor told it that way in 2012. The university’s own news office repeated it in 2021. That story was wrong. The bear was evidence. In 1972, two federal wildlife officers from Montpelier posed as trophy hunters, bought their way into an illegal hunt run by a poaching ring, and followed it all the way to the frozen Arctic Ocean north of Alaska. One of them shot this bear. Sonia DeYoung, who works with UVM’s natural history collections, pieced the real story together from a half-remembered campus rumor, a case file buried in Anchorage and one stripped claw. She told it Nov. 6 in UVM Magazine. The Undercover Buy Early in 1972, Paul Bagalio and Bruce Parker walked into a Seattle taxidermy shop. Both lived in Montpelier. The case file lists Parker as a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agent and Bagalio as a deputy game warden for the service. On paper, Bagalio was an unlikely undercover man. Born in Northfield and raised in Montpelier, he served in the Marines after high school, graduated from Norwich University in 1957, taught at Vermont Technical College and worked as an engineer at Rock of Ages, according to his obituary in the Times Argus. He founded Ramchem, a company that made epoxies for the Barre granite industry. He was also a hunter. His obituary passes along his advice: “Don’t ever miss an opportunity to hunt.” And it says he worked undercover for the U.S. Department of the Interior, helping expose what his family calls one of the largest poaching rings in U.S. history. In the Seattle shop, Bagalio and Parker posed as unscrupulous trophy hunters who wanted a polar bear and didn’t care how they got one. They came away with a scribbled note: a phone number and a hefty price. The Seattle Times later reported the number. In a May 1972 story, later reprinted in the Congressional Record, the paper said the two-man hunt cost $6,500, more than $50,000 in today’s money. The Times cited a federal search-warrant affidavit alleging that the ring paid two men who held valid Alaska permits so the hides and skulls could be shipped and processed under their names. Bagalio and Parker traveled to Barrow, on Alaska’s Arctic coast, with guides working with the taxidermist. These were not men to cross. The case file describes a man taking a 12-gauge automatic shotgun from his plane and telling Parker it was “the persuader.” One photo in the file shows a mustached accomplice peering out from beneath a heavy fur hood. On March 8, 1972, on the pack ice about 100 miles north of Point Barrow, the northernmost point in the United States, Bagalio shot a male polar bear. Parker shot a second. Bagalio had no legal permit to kill it, and that was the point. The bears were hard evidence of what the ring was selling. Back in Fairbanks, a Fish and Wildlife agent marked Bagalio’s bear so it could be identified later. He smeared fluorescent dye around its nose and ripped the dark outer sheath off one of its front claws. Bagalio and Parker went on to run several more undercover hunts against poachers in the West. The danger was real. Bagalio later told the Bennington Banner, according to DeYoung’s account, “My guide made it perfectly clear that he would leave me dead in the mountains if he thought I was an investigator.” Subscribe The Faded Rumor The bear came to UVM in 1975. How the government handed him over is still unknown. A rumor came with him. A student named in the UVM Magazine article simply as Carol helped catalog the university’s specimens in those years, and she heard it: an undercover federal agent had killed the bear in Alaska because he feared his cover would be blown and his life was in danger. Over the years the rumor faded. In the 1980s, the bear was put away in storage long enough for mice to chew the fur off his ankles, and several of his front claws went missing. He was later brought back out and set up on his iceberg in the Marsh Life Science lobby, where he has stood for decades since. Somewhere along the way, the Canada story took over. The Case File Decades later, DeYoung met Carol at an open house for UVM’s zoological collections. Carol told DeYoung’s research partner, Dave Moroney, what she remembered. They were delighted, and skeptical. At DeYoung’s request, David Rippeto, a UVM graduate who is now a Fish and Wildlife special agent in Anchorage, went through a mountain of old case files stashed in cardboard boxes and found the right one. It ran more than 80 pages: photographs, letters, permit records and a typewritten account of the case. Carol’s rumor had the core of it right. A federal officer had shot the bear in Alaska while undercover. But the file showed it wasn’t a desperate move to save his own skin. The shooting was part of the plan. The Stripped Claw One question remained. Was the bear in Burlington really Bagalio’s? DeYoung and Moroney shone a black light on the bear’s snout, looking for the dye. Nothing glowed. They already had the answer. The year before, a conservator repairing the mouse damage had found that one of the bear’s supposedly missing front claws was still there, minus its dark outer sheath, just as the agent in Fairbanks had left it in 1972. “Fifty years later, the marker originally meant for law enforcement told us we had our bear,” DeYoung wrote. Paul Bagalio didn’t live to see it. He spent the rest of his life in Vermont, most of it at Horn of the Moon in East Montpelier, and died Dec. 11, 2022, at 90, a few months before DeYoung first opened the case file. His family remembered the bear differently. The obituary says he took a record-class polar bear in Siberia, across the international date line. The federal case file puts the bear in this story about 100 miles north of Point Barrow. The obituary doesn’t say whether it’s the same animal. His bear is still on the iceberg. Go see him: The polar bear stands in the entrance to Benedict Auditorium, between the Marsh Life Science and Hills buildings on UVM’s Burlington campus. Compass Vermont is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe
Closer Options for Marlins in 2027
After Pete Fairbanks’ rocky tenure, Miami faces a bullpen crossroads. From rehabbing internal arms to high-profile free agents, the search for a reliable ninth-inning anchor begins now.
This weekend in sports: College hoops, state swim meet, volleyball home finales, on-ice showdowns
The college basketball seasons tip off with both Universities hitting the home hardwood Friday and Saturday. Plus, the state’s best swimmers dive into the Bartlett Pool, UAA and UAF host their home finales for volleyball, Fairbanks and Kenai square off on the ice in Soldotna, Anchorage has two games at the Sullivan Arena and both college hockey programs hit the road.
Alaska Science Forum: Moving beyond Alaska Grown
Although I am a lover of Fairbanks, I am not particularly in love with mid-October Fairbanks. Fall’s yellow, shimmering leaves are now browning and dissolving underfoot, and my garden is crisped with old tomato vines and a few intrepid kale leaves, still reaching for the weakening sun.
Moving beyond Alaska Grown
Although I am a lover of Fairbanks, I am not particularly in love with mid-October Fairbanks. Fall’s yellow, shimmering leaves are now browning and dissolving underfoot, and my garden is
Alaskans Dismayed, But Not Moved, by Peltola’s Treatment of Her Staff
Voters interviewed in Anchorage and Fairbanks on Thursday said news that Mary Peltola, the Democratic nominee for Senate, had used offensive slurs would not change their vote.
Community Health Network, Lifepoint Behavioral Health Break Ground on New Inpatient Behavioral Health Hospital
Community Health Network and Lifepoint Behavioral Health, an operating division of Lifepoint Health, celebrated a major milestone as they officially broke ground on Community Fairbanks Behavioral …
Reporting From Alaska- Sullivan injects Fairbanks Memorial Hospital into partisan politics
HOSPITAL CAMPAIGN: The tiny print on some new ads for Sen. Dan Sullivan featuring numerous shots of Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, says that Steve Frank is not speaking for the hospital foundation when he speaks about the hospital. But most people won’t read or notice the fine print. Frank is the tr
Mariners News: J.P. Crawford, Aaron Judge, and Pete Fairbanks
The Yankees’ superstar goes down again. Plus, other injury news from around baseball.
Pete Fairbanks May Have Thrown Final Pitch in Marlins Uniform
A recurring nerve injury forced Pete Fairbanks back to the injured list Monday, potentially ending his inconsistent tenure in Miami just as free agency looms.
New instrument will aid environmental science and industry
A new spectrometer facility at the University of Alaska Fairbanks will let researchers see chemical components of materials in the parts-per-trillion range, advancing environmental science across Alaska. The UAF International Arctic Research Center will build the facility with $877,501 over three years from the National Science Foundation’s Division of Ocean Sciences. The award will enable the purchase [...]
21 youth business licenses issued to UAF lemonade camp participants
Twenty-one Fairbanks children ages 9 to 12 wrapped up a week-long entrepreneurship program Thursday, selling lemonade at UAF’s Georgeson Botanical Garden as the capstone of the UAF College of Business and Security Management’s Young Entrepreneurs Lemonade Lab.
Yankees potential trade target: Pete Fairbanks
Might the Yankees overlook Pete Fairbanks’ down year, banking they can extract the best from this talented arm?
National Science Foundation funds UAF-led critical minerals coalition
The U.S. National Science Foundation announced today that it will fund a major critical minerals project led by the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Urban Alaska’s high costs of living driven by healthcare and groceries
Juneau is the costliest of the state’s three major cities, followed by Anchorage and Fairbanks, according to the annual analysis by the Alaska Department of Labor.
A career of flying for science (and the occasional sled dog)
Martin Stuefer, the director of the Hyperspectral Imaging Lab at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, is both a pilot and researcher.
Marlins' Pete Fairbanks: Notches save No. 10
Marlins' Pete Fairbanks: Notches save No. 10
907 Sports: Recapping a wild weekend that capped off the spring sports season
In this edition of 907 Sports, the team breaks down the Division I and Division II baseball state championships, both of which brought an unpredictable ending. Then, we head up to Fairbanks for the State Softball Tournaments where Chugiak reclaims the DI title and Palmer rattled off four victories in one day to become the Division II champs.
Marlins' Pete Fairbanks: Nails down seventh save
Marlins' Pete Fairbanks: Nails down seventh save
Downtown Association offers incentives for business leases
The Downtown Association of Fairbanks has two ongoing programs to incentivize businesses and restaurants to hang their shingle up in a downtown Fairbanks location.
Alaska Science Forum: Mind-bending science for this science layman
Exploring scientific frontiers with the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute
New NASA HEAT Coloring Book Blends Art, Science, and Cultural Perspectives
A new Sun-centered and science-focused coloring book produced by NASA in partnership with the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) is now available for people to learn while showing their artistic side.
Curiosity is in the air at UAF Science Potpourri
The scintillating sizzle of curiosity filled the air at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Reichardt Building as children of all ages immersed themselves in the annual Science Potpourri on Saturday.
Help us help you: Take the FEDC 2026 Business Climate Survey
The Fairbanks Economic Development Corporation is working with Information Insights this spring to assess the health and trajectory of the economy of the Fairbanks North Star Borough and broader Interior
Annual Science Potpourri sparks kids’ interest in sciences — The Sun Star
The University of Alaska Fairbanks held its annual Science Potpourri Saturday to the delight of the children in attendance. Laughter and “oohs” and “awws” were heard many times as the event held demonstrations with explosions, microscopes, museum curation, and other items to get children interested
Public exhibit blends art, science and community knowledge
An art and science exhibit this spring at the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center in Fairbanks explores the beauty, complexity and changing nature of Alaska’s winter.
Marlins' Pete Fairbanks makes 3rd career start before paternity leave
Fairbanks threw 27 pitches in his lone inning, allowing three hits, including a three-run home run by Yankees first baseman Ben Rice that gave New York a 3-1 lead.
Middle School Science Olympiad takes place in Fairbanks
If it flies, hovers or scrambles, you would’ve found it on the Troth Yeddha’ campus over the weekend during the fourth annual Alaska Middle School Science Olympiad. After a full
Cordova students will compete in Alaska Science Olympiad
Students will be traveling from Cordova, Keni, Minto, Nome, Palmer, Seldovia and Utqiagvik to compete with counterparts in the Fairbanks North Star Borough.
International Arctic delegation gets crash course on Fairbanks politics
More than 20 dignitaries are visiting the Fairbanks North Star Borough this week as part of an European Union-sponsored initiative to foster collaboration among Arctic nations.
Tickets Available for 2026 Alaska Nanooks All-Sports Banquet on April 2
FAIRBANKS - The Alaska Nanooks Department of Athletics has announced that a limited number of public tickets are now available for the 2026 All Sports Banquet, set for Thursday, April 2, 2026, at the 8 Star Event Center.
After decades of soliciting the expertise of locals, Hajo Eicken’s northern career is coming full circle
The director of the International Arctic Research Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks is returning home to Germany after 28 years in Alaska.
CFISD board reverses controversial textbook policy that banned certain chapters of science textbooks
Three political newcomers to Cypress-Fairbanks ISD's school board voted to reverse a decision by the previous board to ban certain science textbook chapters.
Science for Alaska talks and events announced
The University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute will host free public science talks over the next few weeks, highlighting new climate research technology, an Alaska earthquake mystery solution, tidewater glaciers in Alaska and Greenland and a recent Bering Sea journey aboard the research