Paddler kills protected polar bear near Seal River, Manitoba authorities investigate
A paddler shot a polar bear near the Seal River mouth on the Hudson Bay coast of Manitoba, prompting a wildlife investigation.
On Friday, a paddler discharged a firearm and killed a polar bear near the mouth of the Seal River, roughly 50 kilometres west of Churchill on Hudson Bay. Manitoba classifies polar bears as a threatened species and does not permit hunting, so provincial wildlife authorities have launched an investigation. Doug Clark, a University of Saskatchewan professor specializing in human-polar bear encounters, said such defensive shootings are rare in the province.
He noted that paddlers in other Arctic regions sometimes face similar risks, especially when camping on shore. Garrett Fache, who runs Wild Loon Adventure Company, explained that guides typically keep guns sealed and use blanks first to deter bears. Changing ice patterns may be increasing the likelihood of close encounters along the coast, prompting calls for better public awareness.
Why it matters
The death of a protected polar bear raises questions about wildlife safety and human-bear conflict management in a changing Arctic environment.
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