People and Polar Bears in Churchill: How humans and wildlife can coexist

FESCH.TV INFORMIERT:

Churchill, Manitoba is known as the polar bear capital of the world. Every year, more than 800 polar bears from the Western Hudson Bay subpopulation come ashore near Churchill to spend the summer and fall months.

During this time, thousands of visitors from around the world travel to Churchill hoping to see polar bears, beluga whales, breeding birds, and northern lights.

But how do you keep both people and polar bears safe in the same place?

Join us for a CPAWS Manitoba webinar with Vicki Trim, Regional Wildlife Manager for northeast Manitoba, who will outline the province’s successful Polar Bear Alert Program, including how the program works, what a polar bear holding facility really looks like, and what to do if you ever encounter a polar bear.

The Polar Bear Alert Program was created to protect people and polar bears in the Churchill area. Since then, the program has become world-renowned, incorporating a variety of techniques to reduce negative interactions between humans and polar bears and allow them to co-exist.

About the Speaker

Vicki Trim is the Regional Wildlife Manager for northeast Manitoba, working for the Wildlife Branch, Department of Natural Resources and Northern Development. Based in Thompson, Manitoba, she is responsible for planning, coordinating and supervising wildlife monitoring and management programs in the region. This includes wildlife allocation, wildlife habitat assessment and population monitoring of both big game and protected species. Polar bear is one of the species that Vicki is responsible for overseeing, including management of the Churchill and Kaskatamagan Wildlife Management Areas, and working with the Polar Bear Alert Program in Churchill to reduce negative interactions between humans and polar bears.

–The views and opinions expressed are those of the presenters and do not necessarily reflect the views, policies, or positions of CPAWS Manitoba.–

How can we help?

If you have any questions or require any additional accommodations to participate, please email us at outreach@cpawsmb.org.

About CPAWS Manitoba

CPAWS Manitoba has been instrumental in establishing 22 new parks and protected areas in our province. That’s an area larger than Lake Winnipeg at nearly 26,000 square kilometres. Our goal is to protect half of Manitoba’s lands and waters.

–Lunch and Learns–

Nature has been here for us during the pandemic.

CPAWS Manitoba wants to maintain this positive connection to nature by providing a space for Manitobans to connect online from the safety of our homes and be inspired by nature in our backyards and beyond.

Join CPAWS Manitoba for weekly lunch and learn presentations from experts across the province who will share their knowledge and passion and bring new nature-inspired activities into our lives.

*** This program is possible thanks to the generous support of The Winnipeg Foundation***