Canada: Man Seriously Injured After Jumping onto Polar Bear to Protect Wife in Ontario

A Canadian man is recovering from significant injuries after bravely leaping onto a polar bear to shield his wife from an attack, according to police in Ontario’s Fort Severn region.

The incident occurred early in the morning, just before 5 a.m., when the couple stepped outside their home to search for their dogs. While in the driveway, a polar bear suddenly charged at the woman, causing her to slip and fall, stated the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service (NAPS) in a press release.

In a heroic act, the husband intervened by jumping onto the bear, diverting its attention. The bear inflicted serious injuries to his arms and legs before a neighbor intervened with a firearm, shooting the animal multiple times. The bear retreated to a nearby wooded area, where it succumbed to its injuries, police confirmed.

The injured man is expected to recover, police said, adding that officers patrolled the area afterward to ensure no other bears posed a threat to the community.

While polar bear sightings in Fort Severn are not unusual, attacks remain rare, a NAPS spokesperson told CTV News. Located near Hudson Bay, the town frequently sees polar bears move inland during the summer months when sea ice melts earlier than usual, forcing the animals to seek alternative food sources.

Alysa McCall, a scientist with Polar Bears International, noted that climate change has been impacting sea ice patterns, pushing polar bears closer to human settlements in search of food. McCall advised securing waste to avoid attracting bears and debunked myths about playing dead during an attack. “If confronted by a polar bear, fight back with all your strength,” she emphasized