Perhaps nowhere in the world is the polar bear population more robust than in the far reaches of Manitoba, where their annual Western Hudson Bay migration to the ice is in full swing during the final days of October.
As a result, each year about this time the Manitoba Conservation Department issues some wise safety advice to those planning to go trick or treating in and around the Hudson Bay community of Churchill.
You may have also heard Churchill referred to as “The Polar Bear Capitol of the World.”
When you reside smack dab in the middle of the world’s largest polar bear denning area, it’s often necessary to take some special precautions. Among other things, it’s probably not a good idea to wear a seal costume on Halloween night or to resemble anything else that might be a meal to the region’s largest predator.
“To be honest with you, I’ve never seen a kid dressed up as a seal--but the message would be don’t dress up like a polar bear or a seal,” said Richard Romaniuk, district supervisor for Manitoba Conservation.
For going on 25 years now, Churchill has hosted a Halloween Bear Patrol, allowing youngsters to safely trek door-to-door collecting treats on October 31. The special patrol includes a strategic perimeter around the entire town with manpower provided by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Parks Canada, local ambulance and fire officials and the Canadian Rangers.
About a dozen fire trucks, ambulances and other vehicles park with their engines idling and spotlights shining. Other vehicles cruise the streets to give children in this town of 1,000 around eight hours to collect bagfuls of treats and goodies.
While we can’t speak for the authorities in Churchill, Slugs & Plugs can only imagine what they’d do if some Canadian PETA seal-hunt protesters decided to come to town on All Saint’s Eve. Yummy!
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