Wild Polar Bears and Human-Bear Conflict

As sea ice disappears, polar bears spend more time on land and in proximity to human communities — creating conflict situations where bears die and humans face safety risks.

Key Facts

Churchill, Manitoba is the polar bear capital of the world — bears wait for Hudson Bay ice near town
The Polar Bear Alert Program captures and relocates conflict bears rather than shooting them
Hungry bears approaching communities are a direct consequence of extended ice-free seasons
Over 50 polar bears are annually captured and held in the Churchill 'Polar Bear Jail'
Maternal females with cubs are particularly vulnerable during land-bound periods

Welfare Considerations

Polar bears approaching human communities are doing so because sea ice loss has extended the period when bears must survive on land without their primary food source — ringed seals on sea ice. Bears held in Churchill's polar bear jail experience stress from captivity while waiting for ice to form. The welfare of individual bears in conflict situations is a direct consequence of climate change extending land-bound periods beyond what bears' evolved strategies can accommodate. Managing conflict humanely is a band-aid on a wound caused by the fundamental habitat loss of sea ice.

What You Can Do

Support Churchill and Manitoba conflict bear management programs that avoid lethal control
Donate to Polar Bears International climate advocacy and research
Take climate action to reduce emissions driving Arctic warming
Engage with polar bear tourism operators whose revenue funds conservation
Advocate for climate agreements that address Arctic warming specifically