Akłaq (Grizzly Bear)

These large mammals require plenty of room to roam and their success can be a measure of the overall health of the ecosystem. As a focal species on the Yukon North Slope and in support of various management planning efforts, our Council has drawn together substantial Inuvialuit traditional knowledge about grizzly bears over the years. This work parallels considerable efforts by some of our parters to establish updated scientific knowledge about akłaq, including population surveys, and ties into the 2022 Inuvialuit Settlement Region Aklat/Akhaq (Grizzly Bear) Co-Management Plan.

At Home on the Yukon North Slope

Grizzly bears can be found throughout most of the Yukon North Slope. Inuvialuit have described them using mountains and hillsides, tundra, rivers and creeks, and coastal/beach habitats from spring to fall, for travel, hunting, foraging, fishing, and scavenging, depending on the season. During the winter (usually by October), grizzlies are hibernating, often on south-facing hillsides with water nearby, but come springtime, they emerge again.

"I was taught to use ground squirrels as an alarm clock for [grizzly bears].... You know if you see a ground squirrel up and about, running around...there’s going to be grizzly bears moving." 

-Participant, Inuvialuit Traditional Knowledge of Wildlife Habitat, Yukon North Slope

Scratching a grizzly itch...

The camera trap network in Ivvavik National Park has captured some special wildlife moments. Watch the video below to see how grizzlies take care of an itchy back as they shed their winter coats.