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In response to recent bear activity, Inuvik plans to build an electric fence around the community landfill, aiming to complete the installation by September and have it powered by winter.
Earlier this week, the town issued warnings over increasing bear encounters, while the NWT’s Department of Environment and Climate Change confirmed three grizzly bears were recently dispatched.
At a council meeting on Wednesday, deputy mayor Steven Baryluk said the bears were assessed by wildlife officers as a potential public safety risk, with one in particular showing aggressive behaviour.
One bear was spotted along Stringer Road, another near the Boot Lake Park, and a third crossing the bypass road heading toward town.
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Baryluk, who doubles as an NWT government manager of wildlife management, said the bears spotted so far are sub-adults, likely pushed out of their territories and searching for food elsewhere.
“It’s very exciting to see bears for people. We also try to make sure that situations are managed when there is a decision to dispatch,” he said in the meeting.
“At times in the past, they’ve had to call RCMP to actually traffic control because once people know bears are around, everybody wants to go see it – which can cause dangerous situations or escalate the danger of a situation when the bear feels crowded and cornered.”
Baryluk reiterated the importance of being bear aware and staying alert for signs of any aggressive behaviour.
Inuvik residents can report bears that may pose a public safety risk by calling the ECC regional wildlife emergency line at 867-678-0289.
