Description

CAP Objective 5: Manage human-bear interactions to ensure human safety and to minimize polar bear injury or mortality

This presentation addresses CAP Objective 5, which focused on managing human–bear interactions. Progress on the objective was measured against twelve actions and 25 deliverables. Seven actions were completed, four partially completed, and one was not initiated. Achievements included standardized attack response protocols, established baselines for bear and human injuries and deaths, the creation of conflict mitigation templates, and the sharing of deterrent training protocols across Range States. Collaborative research and testing advanced the use of new deterrent tools such as drones, electric fences, and olfactory repellents, while best practices were developed to reduce tourism-related impacts.

Despite this progress, gaps remain. Some actions were not initiated, and the Objective 5 working group was inactive for 2023–2025 aside from publishing conflict data. Monitoring from 2020–2025 indicates that an average of 70 polar bears were killed annually in defense of life or property, while human injuries averaged two per year and fatalities averaged fewer than one.

The presentation concludes by noting that the Range States have made tangible advances in conflict prevention and response, equipping communities with better tools, protocols, and baselines.