Polar Bears Next Door: Churchill, Canada, Embraces Their Presence

In Churchill, Manitoba (AP) – Sgt. Ian Vannest steadily drives through the city in his truck, equipped with a rifle and a rear seat ready to hold anyone he needs to apprehend. His gaze moves around, finally resting on a group gathered by the van. After checking for safety, he approaches the group leader discreetly.

“How’s everything going today?” Vannest inquires. The leader replies tentatively, “Is everything alright for you here?”

“You’re fine. You’ve come a long way. You should have a bear monitor when unloading people from the vehicle,” cautions Manitoba conservation officer Vannest, as tourists marvel at a polar bear on the nearby rocks. “So, if it were you, would you carry a shotgun, right?”

This marks the start of polar bear season in Churchill, a small town jutting into Hudson Bay, where ensuring safety from wild bears is a crucial task for Vannest and numerous others. The situation is becoming more challenging, as climate change decreases Arctic sea ice. Bears, relying on hunting, venture inland faster in search of food. As highlighted by the United Nations for Nature Conservation, a group of scientists is monitoring endangered species.

“You’re likely to see more bears, as they are around for an extended time,” said Jeff York, director of international research and policy about polar bears. The West Hudson Bay population has about 600 polar bears, roughly half the number from 40 years ago, though it’s still about one bear per resident of Churchill.

This remote town coexists with its wild neighbors while also depending on them. Following the military base closures in the 1970s, the population dropped to around 870, but tourism revitalized the community. A 2011 government study revealed that the average Arctic visitor spent around $5,000, contributing over $7 million to the local economy and supporting charming restaurants.

“We’ve grown accustomed to bears—when you see them, you don’t flinch,” explained Mayor Mike Spence. “It’s crucial for the community to coexist with bears and wildlife, fostering a friendly relationship. We just live on their turf.”

Erin Greene recalls a bear attack in 2013, which occurred in an alley on Halloween, when a passerby scared the animals away.

“That was the most terrifying experience I ever had,” shared Greene, who came to Churchill for a tourism job the previous year, highlighting how wildlife, including the beluga whale she rescued while leading paddleboat tours, aided her recovery from this trauma.

Since then, there haven’t been any bear attacks, but the community remains vigilant.

On Halloween, trick-or-treating occurs when bears are hungry, with numerous volunteers lining the streets to maintain order. When aggressive bears wander into town, they are temporarily detained in a polar bear holding facility—an imposing structure with 28 concrete and steel cells—before being returned to the wild. While the facility may not be full, Vannest notes it can get busy with bears pounding and growling from inside.

While the threat of bear attacks remains, locals are cautious. On Halloween, the sirens sound at 10 PM as a reminder to return home safely. Despite this, there are festivities ongoing at Town Beach, close to schools and hospitals—an area where bears often wander inland.

The truck patrols the area, with a security guard armed with a shotgun, scanning for polar bears about 100 yards from the festivities. Guards are trained to deter bears using noise, warning shots, or flares.

“It’s a community effort to keep everyone safe,” Spence remarked. “Living in harmony with these bears is just part of life here. We’re constantly aware of our surroundings.”

The military launch sites once deterred bears, and their closure in the 1970s, residents say, has seen an increase in their visits. Since 1995, local authorities have implemented “polar bear alert programs” to ensure community safety.

Each night at 10 PM, the old curfew sirens remind folks to head home. This past Saturday night, despite the warning, three bonfire parties were ongoing near Town Beach, close to schools and hospitals, drawing bears inland. Yet no one left.

A security truck arrived, and one guard armed with a shotgun stepped out, patrolling 100 yards from the festivities, keeping an eye on the polar bear horizon. Trained personnel use noise, shots, or flares to deter potentially dangerous bears.

“Everyone looks out for each other,” Spence mentioned. “This is just how life is in a community that coexists with polar bears. We’re always aware, constantly checking our surroundings.”

George Naberg recalls his upbringing in the 1970s near Churchill, where many Indigenous peoples lived, and how his parents reacted to bear sightings. His father would encounter bears rummaging through trash and would advise, “If you don’t bother them, they won’t bother you.”

His mother, however, was frightened when a bear approached during her later years.

“It was chaos; everyone screamed, and all the kids had to head home. We sat in silence until we were sure the bear was gone,” Naberg remembers.

For Vannest, the group he encountered that day was at a safe distance from the bear, approximately 300 yards away. He mentioned the bear was merely “showing off” for tourists.

“This is an ideal situation,” he said. “The tourists have a safe view, and the bear is left alone to act naturally.”

The closure of military base rocket sites has led to increased bear sightings by longtime residents, who report seeing bears more often since those closures in the 1970s. Since 1995, authorities in Churchill have implemented “polar bear alert programs” to protect the community.

Every night at 10 PM, the old siren signals it’s time for residents to return home for their safety from bears. Yet, this Saturday night, three bonfire gatherings were underway at Town Beach, located near schools and hospitals—especially attractive areas for bears venturing inland. Still, none of the residents left.

The patrol truck arrived, and one guard stepped out, armed with a shotgun. He scanned the area about 100 yards from the festivities, vigilant for any wandering polar bears. Guards are tasked with using warning shots or other deterrents when faced with potential danger.

“It’s a community watch effort,” Spence emphasized. “Living alongside these bears is just part of our norm. You get used to looking around as you go about your day.”

George Naberg reminisces about growing up in the 1970s outside Churchill, where many Indigenous people lived, recounting how his parents reacted to bear sightings. His father remarked to him about a bear rummaging through trash, saying, “If you don’t bother them, they won’t bother you.”

However, his mother had a more fearful encounter after his father passed.

“It created chaos; kids screamed, and everyone rushed home. Thus, we waited quietly until we were confident the bear had left,” Naberg recalls.

For Vannest, observing the group was reassurance, with the bear a safe distance away at approximately 300 yards. He noted the bear was simply “performing” for tourists.

“It’s a perfect situation,” he said. “Tourists are safely distanced, and the bear can exhibit its natural behavior without disturbance.”

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