A female skier was attacked by a polar bear last month while camping in Auyuittuq National Park on Baffin Island, Canada. The incident occurred during the night when the bear entered her tent and dragged her outside. Nearby campers responded to her screams, intervened, and provided first aid.
Due to poor weather and low cloud cover, a helicopter evacuation was impossible. Instead, the group traveled about 30 miles (50 kilometers) by snowmobile to the community of Pangnirtung. The victim was assessed at the local health center. Authorities have not disclosed the severity of her injuries.
Parks Canada officials identified the bear as a young female with a broken jaw, an injury believed to have contributed to its behavior. The bear was euthanized due to ongoing safety concerns. The carcass was turned over to the Pangnirtung Hunters and Trappers Organization, in line with Inuit tradition, ensuring the animal was used for clothing and food rather than left to suffer.
- Related: 9 Amazing Facts About Polar Bears
All visitors to Auyuittuq National Park receive mandatory safety briefings, including polar bear awareness, before entering the park. Polar bear attacks on humans are rare, but can occur, particularly when animals are injured or unable to hunt. There have been four fatal polar bear attacks in North America since 2000, compared to 37 from black bears and 38 from brown bears.
