{"id":2177279,"date":"2024-08-29T06:00:33","date_gmt":"2024-08-29T05:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/?p=2177279"},"modified":"2024-08-24T09:59:59","modified_gmt":"2024-08-24T08:59:59","slug":"climate-change-is-pushing-polar-bear-populations-into-conflict-with-humans-scientists-say","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/climate-change-is-pushing-polar-bear-populations-into-conflict-with-humans-scientists-say\/","title":{"rendered":"Climate Change Is Pushing Polar Bear Populations Into Conflict With Humans, Scientists Say"},"content":{"rendered":"

Deep in Canada\u2019s remote Brevoort Island, in the Nunavut territory, a radar technician was killed last week in a rare polar bear attack. Days earlier, a polar bear was spotted in Rankin Inlet, a remote, but fairly populated, Inuit settlement in the same territory. Experts warn that similar encounters with polar bears will likely become more common as climate change destroys their habitats and makes it more difficult to find food.<\/p>\n

John Ussak, a resident of Rankin Inlet, said he was afraid the polar bear was stalking a popular summer fishing spot, and attempted to scare it with warning shots, according to The Guardian. \u201cIt took 20 shots before it thought about leaving,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve never seen that before.\u201d Days later, he reported another polar bear sighting.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I heard about what happened to that technician, I was shocked,\u201d Ussak said. \u201cWe hardly used to see polar bears here in the past. But now we\u2019ve had at least two in the last few weeks. It feels like there\u2019s more bears up in that area \u2013 and they don\u2019t seem afraid of people.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A polar bear with a GPS tracker forages along the Svalbard coast in Spitsbergen, Norway on Aug. 23, 2022. Sven-Erik Arndt \/ Arterra \/ Universal Images Group via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Given the location and the fact that two bears were involved, Andrew Derocher, a professor of biology at the University of Alberta, told The Guardian that the attack on Brevoort Island was \u201cunusual.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe reality is, polar bears are unpredictable at the best of times,\u201d Derocher said. \u201cAnd with all of the environmental changes we\u2019re seeing, they\u2019re going to become more unpredictable.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to a 2017 study published in the Wildlife Society Bulletin, polar bears are more likely to attack humans when they\u2019re \u201cnutritionally stressed\u201d and are in \u201cbelow-average body condition.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nasittuq Corporation, which employed the technician who was killed, said \u201cOne of the animals was put down,\u201d according to the The New York Times. The company added, \u201cThe safety and well-being of our employees is our highest priority, and we are deeply committed to ensuring a safe working environment.\u201d The attack happened on an outpost of Nasittuq\u2019s North Warning System, which protects North American airspace by detecting cruise missiles and aircraft, reported The New York Times.<\/p>\n

According to Parks Canada, unlike other species, polar bears can see humans as a potential food source, making them extremely dangerous. In case of an encounter, it\u2019s recommended to carry deterrents such as an air horn or bear spray, and playing dead is not effective. Instead, it\u2019s recommended to back away slowly and prepare to stand your ground by making loud noises and prepare for a potential fight, aiming for the nose and head.<\/p>\n

As climate change worsens, polar bear populations will decline as they need sea ice for habitation and for capturing seals, according to a 2020 research article published in the journal Nature Climate Change.<\/p>\n

\u201cBack in the 1980s, polar bears would look like giant, fat sausages lying on the beach in the summer. But now, we\u2019re seeing a population that is much leaner overall. And I suspect as food becomes more of a challenge\u2026 they\u2019ll start entering [human] communities. Are those communities ready? Absolutely not. A handful have small polar bear patrol programs, but most have nothing\u201d Derocher said.<\/p>\n

This article<\/a> by Michael Riojas was first published by EcoWatch on 22 August 2024. Lead Image: Polar bear cubs with a backpack in Alaska. sarkophoto \/ iStock \/ Getty Images Plus.
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