Edmonton Journal: Nine polar bears found swimming 20 to 100 kilometres off the northwest coast of Alaska last week represent another sign that the rapid retreat of ice in the Arctic is forcing bears to make dangerous, long-distance swims to get to land or ice, scientists and environmentalists say. The bears were spotted in the Chukchi Sea by scientists surveying the area in advance of plans for offshore oil development. The scientists were on contract with Minerals Management Service, a division of the …