Polar bears, pushed on land by climate change, get their own radar

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Researchers in Churchill, Canada — sometimes called the polar bear capital of the world — are exploring whether radar technology could provide an early warning of the largest land carnivores’ presence.

BJ Kirschhoffer / Polar Bears InternationalAs climate change diminishes sea ice from coastal communities in the Arctic and the subarctic, researchers expect polar bears to range further into the towns and camps in this remote part of the world.

Churchill, a small village on the western edge of Hudson Bay in northern Manitoba, Canada, offers some of the best access to polar bear viewing in the world. When the sea ice along the bay melts, the bears migrate to make their home on land and wait for the ice to return. Although every season is different, climate change is lengthening the amount of time bears are away from sea ice here.Bear encounters are common enough that Churchill has its own bear alert program, which began in 1982. Call a hotline — 675 BEAR — and trained responders will come to haze bears away from town or immobilize them. The program also has a facility to hold problem bears.

Researchers this year set up one system — from SpotterRF — on a new mobile tower for testing along pathways frequently traveled by polar bears. “I wouldn’t exactly brand them as stalker killers,” he said. “Polar bears represent a small percentage of human bear conflict in North America, but I don’t know, it takes just one polar bear mauling to ruin your whole day.”

 

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