Canadians in Churchill, Manitoba (Hudson Bay) leave their vehicle doors unlocked for safety

[GON]

Interesting little article about leaving car doors unlocked for safety from polar beers:

In Churchill, Canada, one of the few towns where polar bears roam freely, it is common for residents to leave their car doors unlocked. This practice is not due to negligence but is instead a crucial safety measure: in the event of an unexpected encounter with one of these massive predators, anyone can quickly seek shelter in a nearby vehicle. Known as the "Polar Bear Capital of the World," Churchill faces unique challenges in coexisting with wildlife, prompting the community to adopt unusual strategies to ensure the safety of both residents and visitors.

 

[dnewton3]

Yikes! That's something which puts life's challenges in perspective to say the least.

 

[Patman]

They even have a polar bear jail there where they can keep the bears. Don’t ask me how they convince them to go there though

 

[Bill7]

Interesting little article about leaving car doors unlocked for safety from polar beers:

In Churchill, Canada, one of the few towns where polar bears roam freely, it is common for residents to leave their car doors unlocked. This practice is not due to negligence but is instead a crucial safety measure: in the event of an unexpected encounter with one of these massive predators, anyone can quickly seek shelter in a nearby vehicle. Known as the "Polar Bear Capital of the World," Churchill faces unique challenges in coexisting with wildlife, prompting the community to adopt unusual strategies to ensure the safety of both residents and visitors.

View attachment 262330

I've gotten into the habit of locking every lock in my cars (doors, internal compartments, wheel locks), home doors, home windows, etc 100% of the time with no exceptions. I don't think I could ever leave a vehicle unlocked. If I lived there, I would just carry my car keys with me whenever I go outside.

 

[Dadillac]

They even have a polar bear jail there where they can keep the bears. Don’t ask me how they convince them to go there though

They cuff em and stuff em

Don

 

[ripcord]

I've gotten into the habit of locking every lock in my cars (doors, internal compartments, wheel locks), home doors, home windows, etc 100% of the time with no exceptions. I don't think I could ever leave a vehicle unlocked. If I lived there, I would just carry my car keys with me whenever I go outside.

I think one would quickly adapt with a new set of OCD behaviors, toot sweet, with a bunch of polar bears around.

 

[ripcord]

They cuff em and stuff em

Don

But they are bearing arms! Big ones!

 

[ecotourist]

If I lived there, I would just carry my car keys with me whenever I go outside.

I think they mean you can seek refuge in anyone's vehicle. They're all unlocked.

 

[Patman]

Just remember that if you’re being chased by a bear you don’t need to be able to outrun the bear in order to survive. You just need to be able to outrun the slowest member of your group

 

[AZjeff]

Just remember that if you’re being chased by a bear you don’t need to be able to outrun the bear in order to survive. You just need to be able to outrun the slowest member of your group

Favorite saying about dogs when riding bicycles on the road. Hope the guy in that pic had enough lead!

 

[Astro14]

I've gotten into the habit of locking every lock in my cars (doors, internal compartments, wheel locks), home doors, home windows, etc 100% of the time with no exceptions. I don't think I could ever leave a vehicle unlocked. If I lived there, I would just carry my car keys with me whenever I go outside.

In Churchill - It’s not about your safety, it’s about the safety of the other townspeople, who might find themselves near a bear, and your car is the closest shelter.

Locking your doors, you might condemn someone else to be mauled by a bear when your car is locked.

When your Churchill neighbors discover your self-focused approach to bear safety, I suspect they would “correct” your practice rather quickly…

 

[Kira]

Awww...they're so cute!

Seriously, can't they rip car doors open? ...or is it that they give up unless they're really hungry.
They must be able to smell you.

Previous dog was a Samoyed puppy (7 weeks + 7 days old). People called it my polar bear cub.

 

[wwillson]

They must be able to smell you.

Polar bears have one of the best noses in the world. A good nose comes in handy when you are trying to find food in the arctic.

 

[supton]

Polar bears have one of the best noses in the world. A good nose comes in handy when you are trying to find food in the arctic.

I wonder if the artic cold helps, not much living up there for scents. A good nose and a low scent region, bet they can find food for miles.

I've gotten into the habit of locking every lock in my cars (doors, internal compartments, wheel locks), home doors, home windows, etc 100% of the time with no exceptions. I don't think I could ever leave a vehicle unlocked. If I lived there, I would just carry my car keys with me whenever I go outside.

I remember being a bit surprised at work, early on in my career, when I would see some of the higher ups just toss their car keys into the front seat when parking at work. Didn't have to carry them around for the rest of the day. [This was like 25 years ago.] I don't remember if I was in the habit of locking doors while at work but if I was it wasn't long before I got out of the habit.

Has gotten easier with RKE but even still, I still don't, for a few years I went back from having RKE to an older car without. Too much of a bother in "safe" areas.

 

[KGMtech]

These animals will do anything for a bottle of Coke. And in that Northern community the bottles are VERY EXPENSIVE.

 

[Kira]

I was being coy as all bear are known for their sense of smell.

What I heard of polar bears is that they're always laying in fat so they're "always hungry" SO they'll always attack you.
However, I have seen pictures of them examining the Churchill dump with an audience of humans, so I don't know how true the 'always attack' part is.

 

[oldcodger]

I have seen a short TV program about the bears in this town. A guy lost his life. I could not live there. Those people are simply living in a foolish dreamtown. Sooner or later somebody will pay with their life.

 

[paulri]

Which is why I say you can survive a bear attack with nothing more than a .22 pistol.



Just shoot the knee of someone else in your group.

Just remember that if you’re being chased by a bear you don’t need to be able to outrun the bear in order to survive. You just need to be able to outrun the slowest member of your group

 

[ctrcbob]

I think they mean you can seek refuge in anyone's vehicle. They're all unlocked.

Ditto

 

[BaronHK]

They even have a polar bear jail there where they can keep the bears. Don’t ask me how they convince them to go there though

They tell them there are seals in the jail, of course.