Polar bears invade capital
Bears spotted twice in one week
Casey Lessard
Northern News Services
Monday, July 27, 2015
IQALUIT
Polar bear sightings are rare in Iqaluit, so two in one week caused a social media frenzy as residents scrambled to either stay safe or get a glimpse of the bears.
At more than seven inches long each, a path of polar bear paw prints was found in a playground in Iqaluit July 16. - Casey Lessard/NNSL photo
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The first bear was spotted near the Telesat building, south of the landfill, on July 13. Wildlife officers tracked the bear into the evening hours.
The following morning, it was seen on the ice heading across Koojesse Inlet to the city.
That was too close for comfort for the local Hunters' and Trappers' Organization and Department of Environment wildlife staff, who killed the animal as it headed along the beach toward Apex at about 6 a.m. July 14.
City councillor Noah Papatsie reported at a city council meeting that tents belonging to him and his sister were destroyed by the bear, and expressed thanks to those who killed the animal.
South Baffin wildlife division regional manager Jason Aliqatuqtuq said the bear was a young male, very healthy and fat. In his four years in the city, it was his third polar bear occurrence but the closest to being a threat to the public.
Two days later, another bear was even bolder, blazing a visible trail from the Plateau residential neighbourhood, where it left paw prints in a playground, down behind city hall and across to the RCMP building before apparently heading to the inlet.
