Polar Bears International is deploying drones and installing electric fences in Churchill, Manitoba, as hundreds of Arctic polar bears arrive along the Hudson Bay coast ahead of the winter freeze, Global News reported.
Polar Bears Arrive in Churchill For the Annual Freeze
The first week of November marks Polar Bear Week, aligning with the arrival of the animals near Hudson Bay in anticipation of the waterway freezing over. Geoff York, vice-president for science and policy at Polar Bears International (PBI), told Global News that cooling weather triggers a migration back toward the coast as bears prepare to hunt seals on the ice.
“A couple of things happen, the weather starts to cool off, ice starts to freeze,” York said in an interview with Global News. “That cooling weather sort of triggers something in the bears that they know it’s the time to come back towards the coast. And so, we see increased polar bear activity.”
Drones Herd Bears Away From Human Areas
To reduce negative encounters in an area known as the polar bear capital of the world, PBI is utilizing drones to monitor and steer the animals away from populated zones. The aerial project is being conducted in collaboration with Utah-based Brigham Young University.
Kyle Garrett, a master’s student at Brigham Young University currently stationed in Churchill, explained that the noise from the unmanned aircraft serves as a deterrent. “And with the noise that’s caused by the drone we’re able to fly it towards the bears and then use the noise as kind of a scare tactic to push them in the direction we want them to go,” Garrett said.
Electric Fences Protect the Town Waste Site
Conservation efforts also target the town waste site, where garbage attracts bears. Crews installed an electric fence alongside a camera system that PBI calls “Bear-vision,” functioning similarly to a doorbell camera to detect bears near the facility.
York emphasized that establishing non-lethal deterrents is critical for the long-term conservation of the species. Churchill’s western Hudson Bay polar bear subpopulation has declined by nearly half since 1979, driven by climate-induced sea ice loss and lower pregnancy rates among females, according to PBI data.
Frequently Asked Questions About Churchill Polar Bears
Why do polar bears gather in Churchill, Manitoba?
Bears gather along the Hudson Bay coast in autumn to wait for the water to freeze so they can access the ice to hunt seals and other prey.
How do researchers use drones to manage the bears?
Researchers fly specialized drones toward the bears, using the aircraft’s noise as a scare tactic to safely herd them away from human settlements and potential danger.
What is “Bear-vision”?
“Bear-vision” is an electric fence system equipped with a camera installed at the Churchill waste site to provide early warnings when polar bears approach the garbage facility.
How much has the local polar bear population declined?
According to Polar Bears International, Churchill’s western Hudson Bay polar bear subpopulation has declined by almost half since 1979 due to sea ice loss and fewer pregnant females.
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