Geoffrey York, Polar Bears International

Managing human-polar bear conflict in remote Arctic environments requires strategies that are effective under extreme conditions, feasible with limited infrastructure, personnel, and technical expertise, and adaptable to site-specific environmental and logistical constraints. There is a need to identify and refine practical and affordable deterrent tools that can be deployed and maintained with minimal resources while effectively reducing negative human-polar bear interactions. The objective of this work was to evaluate and refine electric fencing in distinct remote Arctic settings and assess its effectiveness at preventing polar bear access to human infrastructure. Live cameras mounted on a remote tower and trail cameras installed along perimeter fencing at a landfill site and a dogyard were used to monitor fence performance and polar bear interactions. Expert consultation, combined with observations of polar bear behavior and responses following fence contact, was used to identify necessary configuration adjustments, allowing electric fencing to be evaluated and refined under real-world field conditions. Remote monitoring showed that polar bears responded to electric fence contact with avoidance behaviors; across multiple recorded interactions, bears either left the area immediately following contact or avoided further interaction with the fence in subsequent observations, indicating a deterrent effect under the observed conditions. Electric fencing, when installed and maintained correctly, has strong potential as an effective deterrent against polar bears in remote Arctic environments. Although harsh weather conditions and challenging terrain require creative problem solving, the flexibility of electric fencing systems and the wide availability of the materials allow installations to be adapted to specific conditions, supporting their suitability for use elsewhere in the Arctic.