by Jeff Colbourne
Northern News Services

RANKIN INLET (DEC 06/96) - A wildlife officer in Arviat was awakened from his slumber last week by polar bears.

He was alerted at 5 a.m. and again 7 a.m. after someone reported bears roaming about close to town, looking for food.

With his trusty 35 millimetre in hand, the officer went outside, spotted the bears and fired at them with rubber bullets.

"The impact stings them and they run off, said Tim Devine, manager of wildlife and fisheries.

The polar bears are migrating from Churchill, Man. as they normally do, but because of little ice the bears are sticking close to the land allowing some to wander off into town.

Local hunters have met their polar bear quota this year so they can't kill any more despite them being dangerously close to residential areas. Bears have to be scared away.

Local wildlife officers are keeping their eyes open at all time and are informing residents to do the same. Radio announcements are done frequently also to make people aware of straggling bears.

The smell of seal meat left around dog caches is just one scent that's attracting bears, Devine said.

Every year Arviat sees its share of bears but Devine said this year is nowhere near the number of bears they saw two years ago in the community.

At that time, a 24-hour emergency bear line was set up and RCMP officers, bylaw officers, wildlife officers, and biologists were on constant watch.

Devine said he thinks they've hit their peak this year. With temperatures getting colder, bears are migrating further way from land.