A kayaker fatally shot a polar bear in northern Manitoba on Friday, marking a rare instance of a recreational traveler killing a protected species in Canada. The incident occurred near the Seal River’s mouth, located approximately 50 kilometers west of Churchill along Hudson Bay’s coast. Authorities are currently investigating the shooting.

Polar bears are classified as a threatened species in Manitoba, and there is no authorized polar bear hunt in the province. Doug Clark, a University of Saskatchewan professor specializing in human-polar bear encounters, expressed uncertainty about previous defensive shootings involving paddlers or hikers and polar bears in Manitoba. He mentioned conflicts between paddlers and polar bears in other regions like Torngat Mountains National Park in Labrador and Svalbard, an Arctic Ocean archipelago.

Clark highlighted the risk for kayakers, especially when camping along the shore, as polar bears might approach seeking food, including humans. The Seal River, known for its whitewater, flows through polar bear-populated areas, prompting paddlers to take precautions such as carrying shotguns for deterrence. These firearms are kept secured and are used as a last resort, initially loaded with blanks for noise deterrence.

While encounters between humans and polar bears occur annually in Nunavut, with bears being shot defensively or by hunters, Clark suggested that such encounters may be on the rise along Hudson Bay due to changing ice conditions. He emphasized the need for increased transparency regarding the recent incident to raise awareness and educate the public.