Video about animal hybrids

[Catherine]

I am not sure they know why hybrids are happening. Polar bears are spending more time on land because of climate change. This would give them more chance to meet up with grizzly bears. Other hybrids, it is hard to say. I knew a half coyote dog. The mother was in season when she was in coyote territory. She had a litter of half coyote puppies. I am sure the male was still breeding with regular coyote females, but the dog was right there and the male couldn't walk away from her.

Maybe these odd matings are a matter of chance. It can be bad for a species, but it can also be good. The cross between two species is usually sterile, but not always.
It might be a way of adding new genetic material. We will need to study it more to understand what is happening and why.