A polar bear treating a Northern Ontario First Nation as its hunting ground was put down by police and local hunters after they determined it could be stalking area children.
The polar bear was spotted on the Cree first nation located roughly 30 kilometres south of Hudson Bay during the afternoon hours of March 13.
When officers arrived on the scene, they discovered “large bear paw prints” near the schoolyard. They received a second call that the bear had been spotted in another area of the community.
“Through their investigation, police learned the bear was heading back in the direction of the schoolyard,” police said. “Following some consultation with local wildlife experts, police learned the bear was exhibiting stalking behaviour and was very likely treating people, specifically children, in the area as potential prey.”
The bear’s den was located in a wooded area within the community. The situation was exacerbated by the fact that a community scavenger hunt was set to take place, which would have sent children directly toward the bear’s den.
“This, combined with other abnormal behaviours displayed by the bear, led to the conclusion that it was treating Peawanuck as its hunting grounds and its citizens as prey,” police said. “With this information, and further consultation with community Elders, it was determined that dispatching the animal was the only way to maintain public safety.”
Police teamed up with local hunters to locate the bear. It was found and killed a short time later.
The officers and local community members involved in hunting the bear performed a traditional prayer ceremony, police said, adding that the meat will be used to feed local community members. Elders will harvest the pelt and other items to be used in traditional crafts and ceremonies.
“The Nishnawbe Aski Police Service makes every effort to preserve wildlife through the course of its duties,” police said. “An animal is only ever dispatched when it becomes a real and imminent threat to community safety, and no other reasonable course of action exists.”
The polar bear is the biggest bear species and the world’s largest land carnivore with the ability to consume up to 100 pounds of food in one meal, the Nature Conservancy of Canada says. While some males can weigh upward of 1,700 pounds, the average size ranges from 600 to 1,200 pounds and eight to 10 feet in length.
As the largest bear in the world, the polar bear is widely considered the most dangerous of the species and one of the most aggressive apex predators on the planet.
