Polar Bear Week
Photo: Daniel J. Cox
Polar Bear Week is the first week of November! In 2022, the dates are Oct. 30 - Nov. 5. Join us by donating, tuning into our live events, taking part in the “Detect and Protect” Polar Bear Challenge, and more.
Photo: Emily Ringer
Let’s Make An Impact
This year, we’re launching a campaign to fund the development of “Detect and Protect” technology to alert communities of approaching bears. The goal is to reduce conflict between polar bears and people—keeping both from harm.
Protecting Polar Bears and People
Every fall, polar bears gather on the shores of Hudson Bay to wait for the sea ice to return so they can hunt their seal prey.
But the summer ice-free period is three to four weeks longer than it was in the 1980s, straining the limits of the bears’ fat reserves.
Across the Arctic, melting sea ice from climate warming is driving more polar bears ashore in more places—and for longer periods. This is leading to an uptick in encounters with people—encounters that too often end in tragedy.
Ground-based radar systems show great promise as early warning devices that can trigger alerts and prevent encounters, saving the lives of both polar bears and people.
With your help, we can develop this protective technology for use across the North—keeping bears and people safe.
Special thanks to RBC Tech For Nature for their generous grant of $75,000 CAD that served as seed money for our Detect and Protect project.
Get Involved This Polar Bear Week
Did You Know?
Polar Bears International is committed to reducing conflict between polar bears and people, a growing problem across the North. In addition to developing Bear-dar “Detect and Protect” systems, we are working with partners on:
Supporting the efforts of northern communities to become “polar bear safe”
Researching the best deterrent methods, including bear spray
Creating standardized safety messaging for use throughout bear country
Developing “bear safe” coloring books for children in northern communities
