Sachs Harbour (May 01/06) - It was a sight Roger Kuptana of Sachs Harbour has never seen and may never see again.

While leading a polar bear hunting expedition with his helpers and an American hunter almost two weeks ago, the group saw a polar bear in the distance and the hunter prepared to shoot.

But it was only after the fatal shot was fired from about 300 yards away and the group went to see the bear that Kuptana recognized it was not your average polar bear.

"We noticed it had longer claws. Its coat was blond," he said of the bear, which he estimated weighed between 800-900 lbs.

The bear's facial features were also slightly different than that of a polar bear, he said.

"It was something alright," the experienced guide said of the unusual animal, which he says could be a cross between a polar bear and a grizzly bear.

Kuptana said after being out on the land for 40 years, this bear was the last thing he ever expected to see. "It has never been heard of that polar bears and grizzlies mate in the wild," Kuptana said.

Kuptana said another polar bear was spotted in the distance, about one-half hour away from the distinct bear, but that most likely the bear was travelling alone.

Polar bears are marine carnivores and live on the ice. Grizzly bears are usually found on the barrens and would have to cross the ice of the Amundsen Gulf as they do not exist in the region, he said.

Kuptana said the bear was skinned on site at the camp, located near Nelson Head, 120 km southeast of Sachs Harbour.

It was brought back to the hamlet where wildlife officers in Inuvik were subsequently informed.

The bear was taken away by wildlife officers for inspection. The hunter, who had travelled all the way from Idaho, had to leave without his unusual catch.

Tim Devine, manager of wildlife for Environment and Natural Resources in Inuvik, said he could not provide details about the incident as the bear is under investigation.

He did say a DNA sample will be obtained from a lab in Edmonton.

The investigation will likely wrap up in about three weeks, he said.

While some news reports have indicated that charges may be pending against the hunter who shot the bear, Devine said that is not necessarily what is going to happen.

"It's more of an induced error," Devine said of the incident.

Sachs Harbour mayor Andy Carpenter said he, too, was surprised at the unusual catch. He said he sees quite a few hunters pass through the tiny hamlet to hunt muskox or polar bears, although the hunters and trappers association no longer has the responsibility of arranging the hunting and guiding.

Kuptana described the polar bear population as being "more than enough," but that grizzly bears are "far and few between."

"The last time there was one shot, it was probably the only time during my lifetime, was about 10 years ago."

Between 14-15 American hunters arrive in Sachs Harbour each year hoping to bag a trophy catch under the experienced eye of Kuptana.