A hungry stomach or declining habitat: What’s behind polar bear visits to humans

A new study for International Polar Bear Day sheds more light on the relationship between humans and polar bears. CTV's Danton Unger explains.

New research is shedding light on the relationship between humans and polar bears, exploring why the large arctic animals are visiting our communities.

For the past 11 years, a research team has tracked 580 polar bear visits to human infrastructure along Hudson’s Bay using trail cameras. It found the number of visits depends more on the amount of sea ice there is and not how desperate the polar bears are for food.

“Polar bears are not seeking out human infrastructure because they are starving. That’s not something we’re seeing,” said Alex Crawford, an assistant professor at the U of M and one of the study’s authors.

He said desperation for food is not driving animals towards humans but noted the amount of sea ice on any given year is the key factor.

“This means that if you have a year with less sea ice, you’re going to have more bears on shore for longer, you’re going to be more likely to see these visits.”

This research comes as Friday marks International Polar Bear Day.

Kasey Ryan, a conservation research associate at Assiniboine Park Zoo, said the timing of the day lands at a time when polar bear mothers and cubs are in their dens.

“We want to protect those habitats. The denning habitats are really important,” she said, noting cubs are especially vulnerable with about a 50 per cent mortality rate.

The zoo is marking International Polar Bear Day with several events and activities throughout the weekend, including breakfast with the bears and polar bear yoga.

A full schedule for the weekend can be found on the zoo’s website.

Ryan said she hopes visitors to the zoo can gain a new appreciation for the arctic animals.

“We love the bears around Churchill and everything. People love to see them, so it’s important to keep their habitat safe.”