Polar Bears: As hundreds of polar bears prepare to gather near a Canadian town, conservationists are testing noisy drones to move them away from people, plus a camera warning system and electric fencing at a garbage site

Churchill is often called the polar bear capital of world (Representational photo)

Hundreds of polar bears are expected to gather near the Canadian town of Churchill in Manitoba as temperatures fall and the animals wait for Hudson Bay to freeze.To prevent dangerous encounters between the bears and local residents, conservationists are testing noisy drones that can guide the animals away from populated areas. They are also developing an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered warning system to detect approaching bears and installing electric fencing at a waste facility that attracts animals searching for food.The work is being carried out by Polar Bears International (PBI), a conservation organisation working to protect polar bears and Arctic sea ice, according to report by Global News.Churchill, often called the polar bear capital of the world, sees increased bear activity around this time every year. As temperatures drop, the animals move towards the coast and wait for sea ice to form. Once Hudson Bay freezes, they can return to the ice to hunt seals and other prey.However, climate change has made this annual movement more difficult. According to PBI, Hudson Bay now takes approximately one month longer to freeze than it did historically because of sea ice loss. This means polar bears spend more time on land, increasing the chances of coming into contact with people.

Noisy drones help move polar bears

One of the projects being tested in Churchill involves drones that use noise to encourage polar bears to move away from areas where they could encounter people.PBI is working with Brigham Young University (BYU) in Utah on the research. The team is examining whether drones can provide an affordable, non-lethal method of managing encounters between bears and humans.Kyle Garrett, a master’s student at BYU who is working in Churchill, told Global News that the drone is slightly larger than an average model. Researchers fly it towards a bear, using the sound it produces to encourage the animal to move in a particular direction.If researchers want the bear to change direction, they adjust the drone’s position. This allows them to guide its movement without physically approaching it.Garrett said the team’s work so far suggests that drones can be effective in moving bears.

AI-powered cameras to warn residents

Another project focuses on detecting polar bears before they come too close to people. The system, called Bear-vision, is being tested at Churchill’s waste facility. It combines radar and cameras to detect movement in the surrounding Arctic landscape and identify animals nearby.The technology is being developed to recognise polar bears and send alerts when one is detected. Data collected during the trials will help train the system to identify the animals and monitor their movements.PBI described the idea as similar to a home security camera, saying, “Imagine a doorbell camera that tells you if a polar bear is outside.” Such warnings could help residents and workers avoid unexpected encounters with bears.The waste facility was selected because garbage can attract polar bears looking for food. According to Sky News, a fire in 2024 destroyed the site, which subsequently attracted bears searching for food.Electric fencing is also being installed at the facility as part of efforts to prevent the animals from entering dangerous areas.Beyond drones and cameras, researchers are testing other deterrents, including ultrasonic sound, conductive materials and a new odour-based bear spray formula.

Climate change increasing encounters

The conservation efforts come amid concerns about the long-term survival of polar bears in western Hudson Bay. According to PBI, the region’s polar bear subpopulation has declined by almost half since 1979. The organisation links the decline to climate-driven sea ice loss and fewer female bears becoming pregnant.Sea ice is important because polar bears depend on it to hunt. When freezing is delayed, the animals must remain on land longer before returning to their hunting grounds.Geoff York, PBI’s vice-president for science and policy, told Global News that falling temperatures signal to the bears that it is time to return towards the coast. This seasonal movement brings more animals into the Churchill area.The organisation is marking Polar Bear Week during the first seven days of November, coinciding with the annual gathering.Krista Wright, PBI’s executive director, told Sky News that the organisation has worked with Churchill residents for decades to improve coexistence between humans and polar bears. “We’re experiencing first-hand how co-existence is becoming part of everyday life in more places,” she said.