Of the 19 populations of polar bear found in the Arctic, the one in Western Hudson Bay, Canada, is arguably the most comprehensively studied and best known. It is also the one that has been most extensively filmed, photographed, and marveled at, thanks to the tourism industry that has developed around the bears in Churchill, Manitoba. Because of its presence close to some small centers of human population, it is also among the populations that has the most frequent interactions with people; unfortunately, it is also being heavily impacted by climate change.
Photo: Dan Guravich / Polar Bears International
Before the town of Churchill closed its dump in 2005, polar bears regularly scavenged for food there, with some habituated bears venturing into town in search of food, damaging property and becoming a public safety issue. Churchill now stores its refuse in a secure facility and uses bear-resistant bins to collect household waste.
Food Waste and Polar Bears
By Barbara Nielsen, Senior Director of Communications
MINS
15 Nov 2022
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