Man injured protecting wife from polar bear in northern Ontario, police say
A man in Fort Severn First Nation, Ont., was injured Tuesday morning in a polar bear attack, as reported by the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service (NAPS).
According to NAPS, the man bravely leapt onto a polar bear to protect his wife from being mauled. Although he sustained serious injuries to his arm and legs, he is expected to make a full recovery. The couple had ventured outside their home in the First Nation early in the morning to retrieve their dogs when they encountered a polar bear in their driveway. The bear immediately lunged at the woman, prompting her husband to intervene.
As the man struggled to fend off the bear, a neighbour came to his aid and shot the animal multiple times, causing it to retreat. Police were alerted to the situation by reports of gunshots and a potential bear sighting. Upon arrival, they discovered the deceased polar bear in a nearby wooded area.
Fort Severn, a Cree First Nation located near Hudson Bay, is home to approximately 500 residents and is the northernmost community in Ontario.
Alysa McCall, director of conservation outreach and a staff scientist at Polar Bears International, explained that polar bear attacks on humans are rare. Typically, such incidents involve bears that are hungry, young, or in poor health. McCall emphasized the importance of not playing dead if confronted by a polar bear, as this is a myth. Instead, she advised individuals to fight back vigorously.
Polar bears in the Hudson Bay region typically prefer to be out on the sea ice hunting seals. However, as a result of climate change altering sea ice patterns, bears may venture further inland in search of food when the ice breaks up. This behavior can bring them into closer proximity to human communities.
McCall recommended securing waste to avoid attracting bears and traveling in groups when in bear territory. She stressed the need to be proactive in bear country and to defend oneself if attacked. By understanding and respecting these majestic creatures, both humans and polar bears can coexist harmoniously in their shared environment.
