In a warming Arctic, Inuit bear guards protect communities
Traditional knowledge and specialized training are helping people adapt to a changing landscape as polar bears appear in new places and at different times.
In a warming Arctic, Inuit bear guards are protecting communities from encounters with polar bears and black bears. A retired conservation officer from the Inuit community of Tikigâksuagusik in Nunatsiavut, Derrick Pottle, founded BearSafe Planning in 2005 to train people for this role. The program provides a three-day course that teaches safety, protection, and confidence in bear country.
With climate change reshaping the Arctic and polar bears appearing more frequently in unexpected places, the need for trained bear guards has become increasingly urgent. Polar bears, which rely on sea ice for travel, mating, and hunting, are being affected by longer ice-free seasons, changes in bear abundance and condition, and growing human activity in their habitat.
The Canadian government lists polar bears as "vulnerable" or "species of special concern," and 60-80% of the world's polar bear population lives in Canada. Bear guards not only help prevent encounters but also offer employment and personal protection opportunities for those participating in Inuit lifestyle activities such as fishing and hunting.
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