A paddler fatally shot a polar bear in northern Manitoba on Friday, marking a rare instance of a recreational traveler killing a protected species in Canada. The incident occurred near the Seal River’s mouth, approximately 50 kilometers west of Churchill along Hudson Bay’s coast. Authorities are currently investigating the shooting.
In Manitoba, polar bears are classified as threatened and protected under wildlife legislation. The province does not permit sanctioned polar bear hunting. Doug Clark, a University of Saskatchewan professor specializing in human-polar bear interactions, noted the unusual nature of a paddler or hiker defensively shooting a polar bear in Manitoba.
While conflicts between paddlers and polar bears are more common in locations like the Torngat Mountains National Park in Labrador and the Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic Ocean, paddlers, especially kayakers, face risks when camping on shore near polar bear habitats. Typically, polar bears are shot at close range, often when they approach campsites in search of food, including humans.
The Seal River, known for its whitewater and polar bear population, flows through northern Manitoba into Hudson Bay. Paddlers navigating rivers that lead to Hudson Bay often carry shotguns for polar bear deterrence, deploying them as a last resort and using noise deterrents initially. Encounters with polar bears along the Hudson Bay coast may be increasing due to shifting ice conditions, prompting a need for enhanced safety measures and better public education.
Clark emphasized the importance of transparency regarding the recent incident and encouraged authorities to provide detailed information for educational purposes.