2025 Polar Bear Safety Course

Important Information

Safety courses listed below are for students, staff and projects connected to UNIS. All students participating in a UNIS course will automatically be added to relevant safety training.

Courses open for external participants will be found under the sub category "Arctic Safety Center" when available.

General information: 

• Starting time: 08:30
• Duration: 7h
• Location: UNIS + Shooting range

Course starts with a 1h lecture at UNIS on the topic of polar bear safety.  After the lecture we travel together to the shooting range by car or buss. At  the shooting range there will be a combination of theory and practical training on safe handling of fire arms.

What to bring:

• Warm Clothing
• Suitable thin gloves
• Lunch

The course focuses on the following themes:  

• How to plan activities in nature to avoid conflicts with polar bears 
• How to accomplish fieldwork and outings to avoid near meetings and conflicts with polar bears
• How to solve a conflict situation without injury to humans or wildlife 
• How to solve a conflict situation where one must shoot and kill a polar bear. 
• Safe handling of firearms (rifle) and pyrotechnic flares for polar bear protection 
• Practical use of firearms and pyrotechnic flares for polar bear protection 

The course is held over 1 day and consists of: 

• Theory lesson on polar bears and polar bear behavior 
• Practical case exercises on how to avoid and solve conflict situations  
• Safety regulations for firearms handling  
• Practical exercises in safe rifle handling 
• Shooting 16 - 20 live rounds from a knee standing position  
• Use of flare guns as polar bear deterrent 
• Maintenance and cleaning of firearms