Re-estimating the abundance of the Davis Strait polar bear subpopulation by genetic mark-recapture (NGMP ID EC58)

Within Canada, the Davis Strait (DS) polar bear population is shared by Nunavut, Quebec (Nunavik), and Newfoundland and Labrador (Nunatsiavut). The population was first inventoried in the 1970s but likely underestimated its abundance because of poor aerial coverage. A comprehensive population study was conducted between 2005-2007 which found the abundance to be approximately 2,158 bears. The survey also suggested a decline in both productivity and population size in the future. The reduced productivity may, in part, be attributable to the effects of high bear densities which came about during a period of population growth from the 1970s to 2007. In addition, an observed decline in sea-ice (i.e., longer open water periods) has raised concerns that the polar bears have less access to seals and that this is contributing to declines in productivity which, in turn, will result in a decline in the number of bears. In recent years, Inuit have indicated that large numbers of bears are creating public safety concerns especially for people going out on the land. Inuit believe that the bears are negatively impacting other wildlife by eating large numbers of young seals, and eggs in bird colonies. There is some uncertainty surrounding the current status of the DS population, in part of known changes to the sea-ice habitat, but it is believed that the population is either stable or has likely been increasing since the last inventory was completed in 2007. Given these factors, the co-management partners are planning to conduct a new population study between 2017 and 2018 to obtain new data to determine the status of this population and to examine management objectives.