Polar bear-human interactions in Canadian national parks,1986-2000

Interactions between polar bears (Ursus maritimus) and humans in 6 national parks in the Canadian Arctic from 1986 to 2000 were examined (n = 53). No human fatalities and only 1 injury occurred. Bears were killed in only 4% of interactions, a much lower rate than in other studies, possibly because of the availability of deterrents. Interactions occurred mainly in summer in parks where bears are forced ashore by melting sea ice. Unlike interactions between humans and grizzly bears (U. arctos), the frequency of interactions appeared unrelated to park visitation and may have been influenced by sea ice availability. Rates of interactions without human injury varied widely among parks: 2 parks had no interactions and 2 were comparable to the rates for other species of bears in some other parks in North America; Wapusk National Park was much higher than any other. Data were insufficient to test predictions that nutritional stress on bears due to early sea ice breakup would increase the rate of bear-human interactions.