North

Polar bear wanders into Iqaluit, sparks social media frenzy

For the second time this week, a polar bear was spotted in Iqaluit, this time wandering right through town. It's a rare sight, and it sparked a social media frenzy.

Polar bear still at large

Iqaluit Twitter user Craig Welsh put it best:

I mean, what else would you do when a polar bear trots into town for the second time this week? 

It's been a couple years since a polar bear actually wandered around town, although some say they've seen one in Apex from time to time. But as a general rule, if it isn't tweeted, it doesn't count.

And while it took a little over an hour to actually get it confirmed by officials — Welsh's theory at play — there was no shortage of evidence or eyewitnesses, or people gathering to get a glimpse of it.

And the magic happened for some. 

And apparently, the polar bear wasn't the only visitor to Iqaluit.

But as Twitter and Facebook continued to blow up, three o'clock began to feel like we were all kids around the radio, listening to NORAD track Santa.

Conservation officers were on the lookout yesterday afternoon, advising Iqalummiut: "Do not approach the bear.

"Do not go out and try to find the bear if you hear of a sighting. The work of the conservation officers will be made much more difficult if there are people in the vicinity of the bear." 

This sign was posted at the entrance to Sylvia Grinnell Park Thursday evening. (Vincent Robinet/CBC)

No word yet on what happened to the bear. But in times like these, who ya gonna call?

(Nick Murray/CBC)

I'll see myself out now...