Coppermine (Jan 10/05) - Gerry Atatahak calls his recent grizzly bear harvest just a few miles from Kugluktuk on Jan. 3 a "mercy killing."

"When I first saw it in early December it was nice and healthy, it had a lot of fat on it," said Atatahak, 50.

"It was very lean after I skinned it," he said. "It was scavenging on caribou carcasses."

The young male bear's fur was matted, he said, and overall the animal was in "very poor condition," added Atatahak. "I don't think it could've lasted a couple of more weeks by itself."

Grizzly bear sightings are rare in January because the bears are supposed to be hibernating, said Allan Niptanatiak, a wildlife officer in Kugluktuk.

"It was a young bear, only five feet long. I think it was his first season being alone," said Niptanatiak who was alerted to the bear's wanderings before Christmas. "He wasn't prepared or taught well enough to survive, I guess."

One of the Kugluktuk elders followed Atatahak out on the day of the kill in early January.

"He helped me skin it," said Atatahak of the elder. "He wanted to keep the bear feet. They are a delicacy for him. He boils them for three and half hours."

There have been no other reported grizzly sightings this month, he said, adding he suspects this bear was a victim of climate change.

"I don't think its internal clock clicked at all. By the time it was for him to den, it was too late," he said. "He didn't have enough fat to carry him through."

The hunter had not planned to kill a bear, but he did have a tag, made use of all the meat and plans to sell the hid at auction in Vancouver in February.