Broughton Island (Dec 15/03) - Wildlife officers in Qikiqtarjuaq say they're having a problem with one polar bear sow and her two cubs.

For the past few days the bears have been entering the community, prompting both hunters and wildlife officer to scare the animals away several times.

"The hunters have been storing seal meat and it attracted the bears," said Curtis Didham, wildlife officer for the community.

"The bears have already taken some meat. That's causing problems for hunters."

Didham said they are hoping to scare the bears away from the community instead of killing them.

"Jeffrey Qaunaq and I went out and gave the bears quite a scare. We chased them six kilometres out of town," he said.

A meeting was held Dec. 12 to discuss the problem bears.

"If they come back they might have to be killed," said Didham. "We have to look at public safety."

This is the first bear problem the community has had this year. Didham said that Qikiqtarjuaq usually doesn't have major bear problems.

"When we get a problem bear it can be very serious for us," he said.