Today, I got to see polar bears. Up close. In the wild. Holy wow!

An inquisitive female polar bear checks me out.

Today was our first day out on the tundra. At this time of year, polar bears are gathering on the shores of the bay, waiting for the sea ice to form so they can go out and hunt seals, their primary source of food.  This makes it one of the best places on the planet to see wild polar bears.

The bears did not disappoint. Within a few minutes of heading out on the Tundra Buggy® we spotted a female bear who wandered over to us and propped herself up on the tire for a closer look.

Shortly after that, we encountered two males sparring, a playful, wrestling behavior that helps males size each other up, reducing the likelihood of bloody and potentially fatal battles later when they’re competing for mates.

Two male polar bears sparring.

Not only that, you’ll also hear from and interact with polar bear expert Andy Deroscher from University of Alberta, snowy owl biologist Denver Holt of the Owl Research Institute, and climate change expert Kassie Siegel of the Center of Biological Diversity.  You really don’t want to miss this.

Get the Tundra Connections webcast schedule here.

A lone polar bear patiently waits for the sea ice to form so it can hunt seals and break its months-long fast. 

Alberta Sustainable Resource Development says 145 black bears were killed by Fish and Wildlife conservation officers last year after being habituated to garbage in the oilsands region. The number of bears shot in the Fort McMurray district was nearly three times the count the previous year and the highest in recent history, said spokesman Darcy Whiteside. Nearly half — 68 bears — were shot in oilsands camps and facilities after being attracted to the camp by food, garbage or other attractants, Whiteside said Tuesday.

Black Bear cub (photo: Noah Katz)

Fort McMurray, like other company towns that have sprung up over the last few decades, sits in the middle of Canada’s boreal forest, one of the last great intact ecosystems in the world. But unchecked industrial development is leaving scars upon the earth that are visible from space (seriously – take a look at satellite pictures on Google Maps and prepare to be blown away) and destroying habitat that supports caribou, millions of migratory birds, and other species like lynx, gray wolves and bears.

Is Wildlife an Afterthought?

According to NWF scientist Dr. Doug Inkley, the provincial government’s actions are deplorable:

Their approach seems to be, if it becomes a problem, kill it — rather than prevent the problem in the first place. Humans are destroying bear habitat and not disposing of garbage properly. So, we kill the bears.

Whiteside, the spokesman for Alberta Sustainable Resources Development, stressed that bears aren’t endangered and the shootings have had “no impact on the black bear population as a whole.” But Dr. Inkley sees it another way. “This is death by a thousand cuts,” he says, his voice edged with anger. “It may seem like there are plenty of black bears now, but look what’s happening: the tar sands area that could be developed is the size of Florida, and this is going to be repeated over and over and over if we keep encroaching on their habitat.”

Making the Right Choice for Bears

David Mizejewski, a naturalist with National Wildlife Federation, says it comes down to common sense.

We make the choice about whether these bears are a problem or not.  We’ve chosen to destroy their habitat and turn it into a garbage dump.  We can make smarter choices and avoid conflicts with bears.

It may sound simplistic, but that’s what has happened in Alberta. Black bears aren’t naturally inclined to linger in places where people are, but if they learn that food is accessible they lose their fear quickly. Without proper waste management, bears and other animals become urban scavengers, attracted to the easy pickings from uncovered dumpsters. NWF’s Mizejewski points out that solutions like bear-proof trash cans can help lessen the problem, but the only long-term answer is to put the lid on tar sands development and prevent outright destruction of their habitat.

These animals don’t have to die. They’re being slaughtered in part due to America’s addiction to dirty oil.

Black bears and other wildlife are becoming casualties of the oil industry's take-no-prisoners approach (Photo: Glenn Alexon)

We need your help to protect wildlife! Get involved and help us stop this from happening. Take action to protect black bears and other wildlife caught in the line of fire.

You can also help fight tar sands by making a donation. Visit NWF’s “Choose Your Cause” page to see how your support can safeguard black bears and other wildlife in jeopardy.