Polar bear threatening Rankin Inlet must be killed, HTO says
Bears are ‘used to us now’ and pose a danger, organization’s manager says
The hunters and trappers organization in Rankin Inlet says the polar bear it authorized to be killed has migrated away from the hamlet. (Photo by Arty Sarkisian)
The polar bear in Rankin Inlet was first spotted and reported by some Facebook users around Diane River early on Aug. 3.
At the time, the bear seemed to be heading toward the area known as tent city, outside the hamlet. But it soon disappeared in the water, said Donna Adams, manager at Kangiqliniq Hunters and Trappers Organization.
Then it appeared again later in the day. And again the following day.
“It’s a threat and it keeps coming back,” Adams said. “People don’t feel safe in Rankin.”
On Aug. 7, the HTO decided the bear has to be killed. The organization is working with the Government of Nunavut conservation officer, and has informed local hunters the bear can be harvested.
If caught, it will be one of the 12 polar bears hunters in Rankin Inlet will be allowed to kill this year under the GN’s limit, said Adams.
The limits were designed to protect the polar bear population in Nunavut, but Adams said she finds it unfair that bears posing a threat to humans would be counted as part of the harvesting limit.
“It’s not that we want to harvest. We have to kill it because it’s become a problem,” she said.
The concerns about the bear near Rankin Inlet come as a worker at a long-range radar station on Brevoort Island, off the eastern coast of Baffin Island, died after being attacked by two polar bears Thursday.
“Bears have gotten more and more used to approaching humans. They are coming into towns more. Everybody knows that,” Adams said.
“They used to be scared of humans way before, they are used to us now.”
Are these bears different than the ones that overrun Churchill?. There everywhere in Churchill and people don’t need to kill them
The difference is in Churchill, polar bears are visible to tourists, while in Rankin, there’s a risk of polar bear attacks
Polar Bears in Kivalliq are none-monitored, as for Churchill, there is an army of game wardens 24/7 for the sake of the tourist, it it weren’t tourists I wonder how many would be killed in Churchill in both humans and bears.
You mean the ones that are tranquilized and shipped north after habituation to the only economy in Churchill right?
I think the difference would be in check they have reinforced buildings, and that’s a little different than a tent city.
Wow a dangerous polar bear in Rankin. “Should be killed.”
There are some dangerous people in Rankin.
Will they also they be facing the same future as the polar bear?
Who are they?
Under more ‘traditional’ forms of justice, that would seem likely. Under our modern, western justice system, no.
Its Iqaluit that is becoming dangerous in Nunavut being a depository of harden criminals released from Nunavut and federal systems.
it is better to get the bear. I lost my youngest brother back in 2018 to a polar bear mauling when he defended his children. I am telling you that it is better to get that bear instead of loosing a family member or friend to a bear. What is one bear vs what is one family member?? nothing to even think about!
Arviat gets lots of bears in town and 99% of them get to see the next day.
The HTO’s answer to everything is “Kill It”.
I know bears need to be kept away from populated areas.
Out on the land people always need to aware of the danger. Of being close to bears.
But when a polar bear is close to a community. Do they always need to be killed?
By killing the bear. Does that send a message to all the other bears.
And they say things like this to each other.
“Hey I was talking to Sharon, you know her ” Lives over by the dump”
” Said that Rodney got shot the other day”
What happened? Well apparently he was passing by the hamlet”
“Some one seen him and thought he was too close to town”
” Wow” Yea and local HTO. Put a hit on him. And Shot him”
Yup all those HTO people. They are stewards of the land. They know how to look after a bear problem. Shoot them. Sends a message to the other bears. You better not come to town. If you don’t want to get shot.
Polar Bears are hungry, their hunting ground has evaporated to thin air due to warming weather. anything that looks fresh is a fair game…and they will attack, humans appears just like any other food source when roaming the tundra.
The Main Stream Media must be so proud of you. To be told what to think, and believe without questioning.
I don’t know if you’ve noticed (probably not because an article about it would go against that agenda), but ice has stayed in Western Hudson Bay this year longer than it has in year…