Polar bears do not typically live in areas heavily inhabited by humans, but along with grizzlies, they make up some of the most dangerous species of bears in the world. And although attacks are rare , an employee working at an arctic radar station in a remote part of Canada was attacked and killed by two polar bears in a tragic incident earlier this month.
The attack occurred on Aug. 9 at the BAF-3 radar station on Brevoort Island, Nunavut, owned by Nasittuq Corporation, a technical site services and facility management solutions provider. The base is part of the North Warning System for the United States and Canada, operated by the North American Aerospace Defense Command.
"It is with deep sorrow that Nasittuq Corporation confirms a tragic incident occurred yesterday at one of our work locations on Brevoort Island, Nunavut," the company said in a press release . "An attack by two polar bears has resulted in the loss of one of our valued employees." The statement added that employees responded to the scene and one of the animals was euthanized.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends, and colleagues affected by this loss," the release continued, noting that Nasittuq was providing support to the family of the deceased and offering counseling services to any affected employees.
The company also said that it was working closely with local authorities and regulatory agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. “We need to respect the family in this tragic situation, and let the [investigators] and the authorities do their job," Nasittuq president Chris Webb told the local Nunatsiaq News outlet.
Polar bears are listed as a a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) with an estimated global population of 22,000 to 31,000 animals. One of the biggest threats to their numbers are climate change, which has caused a decline in sea ice that the bears rely on for hunting prey. The deterioration of sea ice likewise forces the animals to spend more time on land, which increases the likelihood of conflicts with humans.
This is the second reported fatal polar bear attack since the start of last year. In January 2023, a 24-year-old woman and her one-year-old son were mauled to death in the remote village of Wales in Northwest Alaska, in the state’s first fatal polar bear encounter in over 30 years. The attack took place right near the entrance of a school building, which the polar bear also attempted to breach before it was shot and killed by a local resident.
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