Damage and Damage Identification

Polar bear, Ursus maritimus

Threat or damage from a polar bear differs from that of other bears because it can occur at any time of the year. Conflicts are commonly referred to as “threat to life or property” (TLP) or “defense of life or property” (DLP). Although polar bears are the most predatory of the three North American bears, their threat to human life has been low. Historically, northern people (Inu, Inuit, Inuvialuit, and Inupiat) were aware of the threat posed by polar bears. Legends and artwork portray conflicts between northern people and polar bears. In recent times, polar bears have injured or killed people living and working in the Arctic. Fleck and Herrero (1988) provide a detailed discussion of polar bear-people conflicts in the Northwest Territories and other areas. The Bear-People Conflict Proceedings (Bromley 1989) includes several papers on handling and preventing encounters with bears.

Damage to property can be serious in the remote and sometimes harsh arctic environment, where food and shelter may be essential to survival. Most property damage occurs at small semi-permanent hunting camps, industrial camps, and in communities. Damage includes destruction of buildings and their contents, predation of tied dogs, destruction of snowmobile seats and other plastic or rubber products or equipment, and raiding of food caches.

Legal Status

Polar bears are protected in Canada and the United States. In Canada, polar bears are legally hunted. Seasons, protected categories, and quotas apply. In Alaska, polar bear hunting is not legal, but native people may kill animals for subsistence. In Russia and Svalbard, polar bears are completely protected. In Greenland, polar bears are legally harvested by Inuk hunters. Females with cubs in dens are protected.

Deterring polar bears in Alaska is restricted to wildlife officers because polar bears are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. This policy is being questioned because it does not allow companies or private individuals to deter a bear in a problem situation. It is, however, legal for anyone to shoot a bear in defense of life. In Canada it is legal for anyone to attempt to deter, and if necessary destroy, a bear in defense of life or property. Any bear killed in either jurisdiction must be reported to the nearest wildlife office.

Economics of Damage and Control

No specific studies or reports have documented the economic costs of polar bear damage in the Arctic. Past polar bear problems have ranged in cost from nothing to several thousands of dollars. With the remote locations of camps and communities and the expense of transporting food and products in the Arctic, replacement costs are high. Lost work time of personnel and programs can also be substantial because of polar bear problems. In September 1983, Esso Resources Canada had to suspend drilling until a wildlife officer could drug and remove a bear that had happened onto the artificial island, costing Esso about $125,000. A similar incident occurred in 1985, and cost Esso approximately $250,000 in lost work time.

Hiring bear monitors can cost up to $250 per day to protect personnel, a camp, or an industrial site from polar bears. The cost of government staff and programs that are responsible for handling polar bear problems will depend on the number of problems. Churchill, Manitoba, has the most intensive government program to handle polar bear problems. This program costs the Manitoba government approximately $120,000 per year.

Purchasing detection and deterrent equipment and educating people on the proper procedures to prevent and handle bear problems will cost companies and agencies. These costs, however, are minimal when compared to personnel safety, replacement costs of property in the Arctic, and long-term polar bear conservation concerns.