Wildlife Branch
News Releases
September 22, 2008 — People with homes, cottages or campsites in or near bear country are reminded to Be Bear Smart. Black bears are now increasing their food intake as they prepare for hibernation later this fall. People may see more black bears in the woods or near their homes and cottages as bears search for natural foods such as fruit and acorns. Detailed information on black bear in Manitoba is available on this website.
More detail on this announcement is available in the official news release.
May 15, 2008 — Keep wildlife wild! Every spring, young wild animals are unnecessarily picked up by the public and turned in to natural resource officers or wildlife rehabilitators for treatment and rearing. Many animal parents will leave their young alone during the day, sometimes for extended periods. The parent is usually nearby and quite aware of where their youngster was left. Seeing a young animal on its own does not necessarily mean it’s abandoned or orphaned.
February 7, 2008 — The polar bear (Urses maritimus) is now recognized as threatened under The Endangered Species Act. Declaring the polar bear a threatened species will further ensure its protection, along with its habitat on both Crown and privately-owned land.
More detail on this announcement is available in the official news release.
In 2002, the provincial government introduced The Polar Bear Protection Act, which regulates the capture, holding and export of live polar bears. There are also stronger regulations under a new Resource Tourism Operators Act, which established fines and stricter licensing regulations for outfitters and ecotourism operators, some of who work in these sensitive habitats.
You can read more about the agreements, legislation, and policy for the protection of polar bears in Manitoba on this website.
