A man in northern Canada leapt onto a polar bear to save his wife from being attacked early Tuesday morning, sustaining serious injuries in the process, police reported.
The couple, whose names were not disclosed, stepped out of their home around 5 a.m. local time (11:00 GMT) to locate their dogs when the polar bear suddenly charged at the woman in their driveway.
“The woman slipped to the ground as her husband leapt onto the animal to prevent its attack,” the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service stated. The bear mauled the man, leaving him with serious but non-life-threatening injuries to his arms and legs.
A nearby resident intervened, firing multiple shots at the bear. The animal retreated into the surrounding forest, where it succumbed to its injuries.
The injured man was transported to a local nursing station for medical treatment. Police confirmed that officers continued to patrol the Fort Severn First Nation area, a remote community of approximately 400 people in northern Ontario, to ensure no additional polar bears were in the vicinity.
Alysa McCall, a scientist with Polar Bear International, told CBC News that such attacks are uncommon. Polar bears typically avoid human settlements, spending most of their time at sea hunting seals.
However, climate change has disrupted sea ice patterns, sometimes forcing bears inland in search of food. McCall noted that polar bears involved in human attacks are often young, hungry, or unwell.
She also provided crucial advice: “If you’re attacked by a polar bear, do not play dead — that is a myth. Fight back as long as you can.”
As global temperatures continue to rise, the frequency of human-polar bear interactions may increase due to diminishing ice habitats. Residents of polar bear territories are advised to remain vigilant and prepared for potential encounters.
