Clyde River (Dec 04/06) - Hunters in Clyde River have started feeding polar bears to keep them from wandering into the Baffin Island hamlet.

Clyde River resident Peter Iqalukjuak said hunters have been reporting skinny bears.

"They've even seen a bear eating a fox," he said.

It isn't clear how the bears will be fed and where the food will be placed. James Qilluq, chair of the Hunters and Trappers Association, couldn't be reached before deadline.

The action came the same week Environment Minister Patterk Netser announced the launch of a polar bear safety DVD, which he called "the first ever information piece on polar bear and human behaviour.

"As human presence continues to rise, there is an increasing danger that both people and polar bears are being unnecessarily harmed," Netser told MLAs Nov. 27. "Each year polar bears are shot in defence of life and property."

The safety DVD is the result of a review of polar bear safety procedures in territorial parks after a young bear attacked four sleeping campers in Katannilik Park near Kimmirut in 2001.