STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES GUIDES AND BEAR GUARDS

1. EMPLOYEES USING A COMPANY VEHICLE MUST NOT LURE OR PLACE FOOD TO ATTRACT OR FEED POLAR BEARS. EMPLOYEES MUST NOT PURSUE POLAR BEARS OR OTHERWISE DISTRUB THEIR NATURAL BEHAVIOR. 

2. CLIENTS MUST BE PROVIDED WITH A BRIEFING ON POLAR BEAR SAFETY AND SUPERVISED AT ALL TIMES BY THE EMPLOYEE TO ENSURE THAT A PASSENGER OR PASSENGERS DO NOT EXIT THE VEHICLE WHEN IT IS UNSAFE TO DO SO, REACH OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, OR OTHERWISE EXPOSE THEMSELVES TO A POTENTIAL ATTACK WHILE IN THE VICINITY OF POLAR BEARS. 

3. WHEN CONDUCTING A WALKING TOUR, THE EMPLOYEE WILL ENCOURAGE THE GROUP TO REMAIN TOGETHER AND MAINTAIN A TIGHT FORMATION. EMPLOYEES AND CLIENTS MUST NOT APPROACH A POLAR BEAR ANY CLOSER THAN 100 METRES.

 4. EMPLOYEES SHALL DETERMINE WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DISEMBARK FROM THE VEHICLE. EACH GROUP MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A BEAR MONITOR. THE BEAR MONITOR SHALL CARRY LETHAL AND NON-LETHAL MEANS OF DETERRING POLAR BEARS AND BE PROFICIENT WITH THEIR USE. A 12-GUAGE SHOTGUN LOADED WITH SLUGS IS THE MOST APPROPRIATE MEANS OF LETHAL FORCE. A SEPARATE SHOTGUN LOADED WITH CRACKER SHELLS, OR A PISTOL THAT FIRES WHIZ BANGS BE USED AS A NON-LETHAL MEANS OF DETERRENCE FOR BEAR MONITORS.

 5. THE BEAR MONITOR SHALL MAINTAIN WATCH THAT NO BEARS PRESENT A RISK DURING THE GROUND TOUR OR EXCURSION. THE BEAR MONITOR’S SOLE PURPOSE IS TO PROTECT THE GROUP FROM POLAR BEARS. THE BEAR MONITOR MAY NOT PROVIDE INTERPRETATION OR OTHERWISE BECOME DISTRACTED FROM THIS RESPONSIBILITY. SHOULD A BEAR APPROACH, THE BEAR MONITOR SHALL DETER IT USING NON-LETHAL MEANS. IF THIS IS NOT SUCCESSFUL, THE GROUP SHALL BE ESCORTED BACK ONTO THE VEHICLE BY THE GROUP SUPERVISOR. IF A BEAR CHARGES, OR APPROACHES IN AN AGGRESSIVE MANNER, THE BEAR MONITOR SHALL STOP THE ADVANCE BY THE BEAR AND PREVENT ANY ATTACK WITH LETHAL FORCE IF NECESSARY. 

6. ALL DETERRENT ACTIONS AND ANY BEARS KILLED MUST BE REPORTED TO THE CONSERVATION OFFICER IN CHURCHILL WITHIN 24HOURS. ANY INCIDENT INVOLVING LETHAL FORCE WILL BE SUBJECT TO A FORMAL INVESTIGATION BY MANITOBA SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. 

7. EMPLOYEES WILL KEEP A RECORD OF ALL POLAR BEAR ENCOUNTERED/OBSERVED ON A DAILY BASIS IN THE COURSE OF OPERATION. A SUMMARY OF THESE OBSERVATIONS, INDICATING THE DATE OF THE TOUR, NUMBER OF CLIENTS, NUMBER OF BEARS OBSERVED, AGE CLASS AND APPROXIMATE LOCATION, MUST BE PROVIDED TO THE DIRECTOR OF WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES BRANCH, 200 SAULTEAUX CRESECENT, WINNIPEG MB R3J 3W3 NO LATER THAN MARCH 31, 2025