| Safety
in Polar Bear Country
How
not to get eaten by a Polar Bear in Churchill
From
Parks Canada 'Safety in Polar Bear Country'
Like
people, bears are individualistic and each has a distinct personality.
It is possible to predict patterns of behaviour but actions of
unknown individuals are as hard to predict as would be those of
a stranger. Most bears normally avoid people, however, polar bears
may approach because they are curious about you. Such approaches
are not necessarily aggressive. Any bear that approaches should
cause you to prepare to use deterrents. Polar bears have behavioural
responses that imply curiosity, agitation or predation.
When
a bear is approaching, its behaviour should be carefully observed.
Any of the following behaviours suggest a curious bear:
- Standing on four feet and moving slowly
- Stopping frequently and sniffing the air
- Holding its head high with ears forward or sticking out
- Moving its head from side to side or lifting its nose up into
the air to test the wind and catch a scent. Like other bear species,
a polar bear will often circle downwind and approach from behind
to catch the scent of a person.
An
agitated polar bear has different behaviours. These include:
- Making a loud huffing sound
- Snapping its jaws to make loud sounds
- Staring directly at a person
- Lowering its head below shoulder level with ears back and pressed
against the side of its head. The head may be swaying back and
forth sideways. Sometimes they may stamp their feet. Bluff charges
by polar bears are rare. A charging polar bear should be interpreted
as a bear intent on injuring a person.
Polar
bears will get used to people (habituated), no longer readily
fleeing from them, if they are repeatedly exposed to people. Bears
habituated to people may appear tame or neutral. They are not.
They tolerate closer approaches than do other bears, but all bears
have a varying critical distance which may lead to attack when
intruded upon by a person.
Causes
and avoidance of polar bear attacks
An
approaching polar bear should always be watched and its behaviour
monitored to determine your response. If possible, a person should
go immediately to a secure place such as a building. If there
is time, move upwind of the bear so it can get a positive scent
identification on you. If not, and there is time and opportunity,
deterrents should be used.
If
this fails and you are closely approached or attacked by a polar
bear, then try to get away or continue to try to deter the bear.
Any potential weapon should be considered, such as skis, blocks
of ice or even knives. Group action, such as making a lot of noise,
may help to drive a polar bear away.
A
comprehensive search for records of polar bear inflicted injuries
in Canada revealed four deaths and 15 additional injuries occurred
between 1970-85. Fifteen of these cases, including the four deaths,
were due to actual or attempted predation by the polar bear. In
the North, hundreds of polar bears have been shot or deterred
over the years because people thought the bear might attack. Four
cases of injury occurred when females with young apparently attacked
in defence of their young after people approached too close or
surprised them.
More
information can also be found at
Nunavut Parks polar bear safety page.
Contact
Polar Bear Alley Expeditions for more details..
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