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Approximately 1,200 - 1,600 polar bears live in the western
Hudson Bay area, an area extending from the Manitoba-Ontario boundary through to
Chesterfield Inlet in the Northwest Territories. The majority of the population spends
most of the year, from mid-November to late July, on the ice of Hudson Bay. Pregnant
females are an exception to this, spending from mid-November through to March in maternity
dens on land, and then moving to the sea ice with their cubs. From late July through to
mid-November the entire population is forced onto adjacent coastal lands as the ice
disappears. The greatest concentrations during this time period occur between the Nelson
River and the town of Churchill.
High demand is seen for tourism operations in the
Churchill area for access to world-class polar bear viewing opportunities. The number of
commercial tour operators and the number of vehicles permitted on the high-use areas east
of the townsite continues to be restricted. Measures are also taken to restrict travel to
existing trails, designate some areas as off-limits, and more actively enforce the
prohibition on baiting.
Bear condition and productivity has declined steadily over the last decade. Fall weight
of all age classes for both sexes declined, and a steady decline was seen in spring weight
of adult females leaving the denning area with cubs. The reproductive rate of females also
declined, as did the survival rate of cubs. Researchers from the Canadian Wildlife Service
continue to investigating this trend and its possible causes.
Provincial staff sit on several federal-provincial polar bear committees. The
designations of this species as Protected under The Wildlife Act
is consistent with the International Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears and
their Habitat. COSEWIC further classifies the polar bear as "Vulnerable".
Manitoba does not permit the harvesting of polar bears in the province for either
recreational or commercial purposes. In order to protect people and property at the
Churchill townsite, Manitoba must unfortunately destroy some repeat problem bears. Some
bears have become habituated to coming into the townsite and are often females with cubs.
The number killed or removed remains small and does not affect the population. Orphaned or
abandoned cubs are made available to zoos meeting strict criteria developed by Manitoba
Conservation.
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