DATE: 2003.10.30
CATEGORY: National general news
PUBLICATION: cpw
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Churchill mounts helicopter and shotgun patrols to protect Halloween kids
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CHURCHILL, Man. (CP) _ Members of this northern Manitoba community will be
using helicopters and shotguns to make sure children have a safe Halloween.
Officials from the RCMP, Conservation Manitoba, Parks Canada, and local fire
and ambulance departments will be out in full force to keep polar bears off
the street while children are out trick or treating.
"We've been doing this for more than 20 years and we've never had a problem,''
says Richard Romaniuk, district supervisor for Manitoba Conservation. "Everyone
in the community works together to make this happen.''
Before the children head out Friday afternoon, a local helicopter company
will take Halloween Polar Alert officials up to scan the town for wandering
bears.
As the helicopter circles, 13 vehicles displaying flashing lights will secure the town perimeter and patrol the streets.
"We just want to prevent the bears from wandering in,'' said Romaniuk. "The lights are a deterrent.''
Churchill has long been a magnet for the giant white bears due to its proximity to the world's largest denning area.
Polar bears come off the ice in July and make their home around Churchill.
As the weather changes and freeze-up starts, the bears start heading back
to Hudson Bay to hunt seals.
"They're been lazing around on the coast and now they're starting to move again,'' says Romaniuk.
The town has a Polar Bear Alert line for residents to report bear sightings
and officials with the Halloween Polar Alert visited the school to educate
the goblins and ghouls about the danger.
"We tell them the sorts of costumes they should avoid,'' said Romaniuk. "We
warn them to stay in well-lighted areas. And we make sure they avoid the
coastal areas.''
Children are warned not to wear polar bear costumes. Ghost costumes or any
other white costumes are also forbidden, he said. And dressing up as a seal
is the ultimate faux pas.
If a bear is spotted Friday, the Halloween team will radio in its location
and if it poses a threat, it will be shot with a dart gun, tranquilized and
removed.
The town's bear jail _ 23 holding pens _ is nearly full to capacity with 20 bears already in custody.
Once it is filled, officials will have to relocate any other problem bears by helicopter.
No one has been fatally mauled by a polar bear in Churchill in two decades.
The last deadly attack occurred in 1983 when a resident who scavenged packages
of ground beef from a burned-out hotel ran into a bear in a dark alley.
(Winnipeg Free Press)