Polar Bear Sightings

If you observe a polar bear, polar bear tracks, or scat in the Eeyou Marine Region please contact your Cree Trappers Association-Eeyou Marine Region Local Officer (contact info below).

For a polar bear observation, including the observation of a live bear, dead bear, den, tracks, or scat, please record the following information:

– Location of observation, including coordinates, a description, and photos if possible.

– Date and time of observation.

– Number of bears, and if possible, their sex, age, and body condition (skinny, thin, average, fat or very fat).

– Any additional information that you deem important.

For a polar bear encounter or complaint, including close encounters, camp damage, or a defense of life and property kill, please record the following information:

– All information required for a polar bear observation.

– If a bear is posing a threat to people, contact the CTA-EMR department immediately (819-977-2165 ext. 241).

– Date sighted and if relevant the date you tried deterring the bear.

– Disposition of the bear (aggressive, fearful, unresponsive to deterrents, other disposition).

– Reason for conflict (attracted to food, investigating camp, destroying equipment, endangering public, or other reasons).

– If relevant, the type of deterrent used (shouting, dogs, warning shots, flares or visual deterrents, throwing debris, airhorn or auditory deterrents, rubber bullets, or chasing with a vehicle).

– A timeline of actions taken to deter the bear.

Contact Information:

Waskaganish – Sanford Diamond – Tel: 819-895-2030 ext. 3826 – sdiamond@ctaoffice.ca

Eastmain – Vacant – Tel: 819-977-2165 ext. 241 – nlouttit@ctaoffice.ca

Wemindji – George Natawapineskum – Tel: 819-978-3200 ext. 228 – gnatawapineskum@ctaoffice.ca

Chisasibi – John Lameboy – Tel: 819-855-2202 ext. 386 – jlameboy@ctaoffice.a

Whapmagoostui – Robert E. Fireman – Tel: 819-929-3528/3419 – rfireman@ctaoffice.ca