A person in Fort Severn First Nation, Ont., was injured Tuesday morning in a polar bear assault, mentioned the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service (NAPS).
“The person who leapt onto a polar bear to guard his spouse from being mauled is recovering from critical accidents to his arm and legs, however is anticipated to recuperate,” mentioned NAPS in an emailed launch.
The couple had come out of their residence within the First Nation to seek out their canines someday earlier than 5 a.m. and located a polar bear of their driveway, mentioned police.
The bear lunged on the woman, NAPS mentioned.
“The lady slipped to [the] floor as her husband leapt onto the animal to forestall its assault. The bear then attacked the male, inflicting critical however non-life-threatening accidents to his arm and legs,” mentioned the discharge.
Neighbour helped man being attacked
As the person tried to struggle off the bear, a neighbour got here and shot it, police mentioned. The bear backed off after being shot a number of instances.
Police arrived to the house after receiving experiences of gunshots and a potential bear sighting.
They discovered the polar bear, which had died of its accidents in a close-by wooded space, in response to NAPS.
Police patrolled the neighborhood to make sure there weren’t every other polar bears roaming, mentioned the discharge.
Fort Severn is a Cree First Nation close to Hudson Bay. It’s residence to roughly 500 individuals and is the northernmost neighborhood in Ontario.
Bears that assault are sometimes hungry, unwell, scientist says
Polar bears not often assault people, mentioned Alysa McCall, director of conservation outreach and a employees scientist at Polar Bears Worldwide.
When assaults do occur, the bears concerned are sometimes hungry, younger or unwell.
If you happen to’re attacked by a polar bear, undoubtedly don’t play deceased — that could be a delusion. Battle so long as you may. - Alysa McCall, Polar Bears Worldwide
“A wholesome polar bear that is out on the ocean ice is just not going to have a number of incentive to assault a human being,” mentioned McCall.
Polar bears round Hudson Bay desire to be out on the ocean, ice searching seals, she mentioned. When the ice breaks up, they arrive inland looking for meals.
McCall mentioned the ice breakup was a little bit sooner than standard in southern Hudson Bay this 12 months
“It might be that [when] this assault occurred, possibly this bear was a little bit hungrier than standard,” she mentioned.
As local weather change causes ocean temperatures to fluctuate, McCall mentioned this implies sea ice patterns change, which impacts how far inland bears go all year long.
“That may imply that they go searching for meals somewhere else, and meaning coming into contact with communities and other people greater than they used to,” she mentioned.
Polar bears that are available contact with individuals in communities are often following smells of attractants like rubbish or meals, she mentioned.
McCall beneficial locking up waste to forestall attracting bears and travelling in teams when in bear nation.
“If you happen to’re attacked by a polar bear, undoubtedly don’t play deceased — that could be a delusion,” she mentioned, “Battle so long as you may.”
