Polar bear deterrence guidelines proposed

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has published proposed guidelines for deterring polar bears from interactions with people or from gaining access to property.

“The deterrence guidelines would, if approved, be voluntary and are intended to reduce occurrences of interactions between bears and humans in manners safe for both,” Fish and Wildlife said April 23. “They provide clear guidance for minimizing incidental encounters with polar bears, but will not change the legal status quo for any activities in Alaska.”

The guidelines would complement provisions of the Marine Mammals Protection Act that allow Fish and Wildlife to authorize techniques such as the use of noise to chase bears from areas of human population or from work sites. The MMPA also allows the lethal take of polar bears in defense of life but not in defense of property, Fish and Wildlife said.

The recommended deterrence techniques include the physical protection of property and people using barriers such as rigid fencing and caging, and the use of more active measures such as the use of noise to discourage a bear from an undesirable interaction with human activity.

And in keeping with the intent of the MMPA, the techniques would deter bears without risking the death or injury of the animals.

“While some parties may believe they do not go far enough, we do not believe more active deterrence measures are appropriate for these guidelines,” Fish and Wildlife said.

Comments on the proposed guidelines are due on or before May 26.

—Alan Bailey