Two Polar Bear Sightings Confirmed

[Peter Emberley]

 

Wildlife officers have confirmed two polar bear sightings in the St. Anthony area. A snow plow struck one of the animals on the highway near Raleigh yesterday. The district manager with the Department of Natural Resources, George Gibbons, says they found the animal,  tracked it for some distance and determined that it did not appear to be hurt. Gibbons says the worst part of having polar bears in the area is the instinct that people have to seek it out to have a look. Gibbons says that's what can lead to trouble for people, and for the animals.

He says as soon as there's a sighting, people put it on Facebook and that draws people out to have a look, which in turn confuses and upsets the animal.       He says it's important to stay away from the bears as they will eventually head back up north on their own. If a bear becomes a nuisance or a danger, they will tranquilize the animal and remove it.

Vocm News

[Peter Emberley]

Part 2  of Polar Bears

Residents of the Northern Peninsula are being warned to be wary after a number of recent polar bear sightings in and around St. Anthony and St. Carol's. Area MHA Christopher Mitchelmore says an animal was even struck and injured by a snow plow on Shoal Arm Hill in Raleigh this morning. He says he's very concerned for the public's safety in the area, and warns people to be very aware of what they may encounter.   He says people need to be extra cautious, and stay calm, don't make direct eye contact, or run if you happen to see a bear.   Mitchelmore says any decision to close schools in the area would have to come from the school board, but children are at risk from animals that are not native to the area.

He says White Hills Academy in St. Anthony covers a wide area, and he thinks a protocol needs to be put in place to prevent people, especially children, from being put at risk.

Vocm News