Polar bear spotted far from home

Residents of a remote northeastern Manitoba native community were shocked to see a polar bear swimming in the local river.

RCMP in Shamattawa say the white bruin was spotted Sunday evening at about 6:30 – after getting a report from a resident, the Mounties launched their boat and found the lone bear swimming in the Gods River.

RCMP Sergeant Noel Allard is quoted in a news release saying that " the bear appeared to be young, but was quite a good size" and " that the people in the community were very exited to see it.”

The release goes on to say, Sergeant Allard spoke to several elders in the community, and reports " this is the first time anyone in the area remembers seeing a polar bear".

Polar bears are common further north in Manitoba, near their natural habitat on and around the sea ice at Hudson’s Bay. John Iocazza, a University of Manitoba expert in Polar Bear ecology and habitat says "it’s the exception to the rule. To go that far south it’s about 150 kilometers."

The RCMP says it monitored the bear until night fall, when it left the area. Provincial wildlife experts were advised and will keep watch for it. There were no injuries.