A conservation officer is due to visit Kinngait this week, something that hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 occurred in five months.

Meanwhile, the community was repeatedly visited by at least two polar bears earlier this month. Several residents posted on social media about bear sightings near residential areas.

SA国际影视传媒淭his has to be stopped. Scary and dangerous. I hope everyone has been notified that this has been happening in the town,SA国际影视传媒� a community member wrote in response, one of a few people to describe the situation as SA国际影视传媒渟cary.SA国际影视传媒�

Similar circumstances occurred in early December, with bears frequently making forays into Kinngait over a few weeks.

The Department of Environment stated that the permanent conservation officer position in Kinngait, vacant since October, has not yet been advertised but department staff are SA国际影视传媒渨orking within the Government of NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 hiring processes to fill the position.SA国际影视传媒�

It was also noted that several previously scheduled relief visits by a temporary conservation officer were cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In the Legislative Assembly on March 11, Uqqummiut MLA Mary Killiktee inquired about Qikiqtarjuaq, where a staff vacancy for conservation officer dated back to the 5th Legislative Assembly and it was said to be due to a lack of staff housing.

SA国际影视传媒淭he community never seems to be able to keep a renewable resource or conservation officer,SA国际影视传媒� Killiktee said, adding that one of Clyde RiverSA国际影视传媒檚 two positions also needs to be filled.

In regards to Qikiqtarjuaq, Environment Minister David Akeeagok replied, SA国际影视传媒淭he situation has been like that for a long time now and they are still waiting for staff housing and the situation is still the same. They get fly-in conservation officers and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 how communities are dealt with when they donSA国际影视传媒檛 have a conservation officer. Some of the officials go into the communities and do the work that needs to be done. We do want to hire people, but sometimes it takes a very long time to fill the positions.SA国际影视传媒�

Among a conservation officerSA国际影视传媒檚 duties is to deliver and administer services and projects relating to environmental protection and wildlife management. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 a requirement to work with other organizations and agencies such as local hunters and trappers, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the Canadian Wildlife Service and the .

In Kinngait, Mayor Timoon Toonoo said there are volunteers who scare off the bears by using their vehicles. Through his conversations with representatives of the local hunters and trappers association, he said he understands that there are five polar bear hunting tags available. However, there are multiple reasons why itSA国际影视传媒檚 more difficult to entice harvesters to use the tags, including fewer people eating polar bear meat, very low prices for polar bear hides and the considerable amount of work required to deal with the predatorSA国际影视传媒檚 carcass. That process entails cutting the body, separating the fat and cleaning and drying the skin.

Adamie Nuna, chair of the Aiviq Hunters and Trappers in Kinngait, could not be reached for comment.