| The western Hudson Bay polar bear (Ursus maritimus) population spends several months (July-November) on land when the sea ice melts. The on-land distribution of polar bears shifted north and east over 1986-2004 and the shifts were correlated with sea ice break-up, the North Atlantic Oscillation, and the Arctic Oscillation for some age- sex- and reproductive-classes. The number of problem bears has increased in Churchill, Manitoba over 1970-2004. Nutritional stressed bears and changes in distribution may account for the rise in problem bear numbers. Sea ice freeze-up explained some of the yearly variation in problem bear numbers. It is critical to identify environmental variables that affect polar bear behaviour and distribution and to understand how the population could respond to changing climatic conditions. Such information is essential for wildlife managers to implement effective management strategies to ensure human safety and the conservation of polar bears. |
