Christopher Best, a 34-year-old amateur photographer from Labrador, Canada, was tragically killed by two polar bears on August 8, 2024, at an Arctic radar site on Brevoort Island. Best, who had been working at the site for only two days, ventured outside to photograph the bears despite clear warning signs and advice to remain indoors.

Best had taken photos of a bear earlier and asked a wildlife monitor to inform him when bears were nearby so he could capture more images. On the day of the incident, he was alerted to a bear's presence and went outside, believing he was at a safe distance. However, according to a report by his employer, the Nasittuq Corporation, he was unaware of a second bear that cut off his escape route and attacked him. Surveillance footage showed the second bear charging at Best, followed by the first bear joining the attack.

Despite efforts to deter the bears with a non-lethal bear-banger, one bear had to be fatally shot after it turned back towards the scene. The report highlighted that Best had some polar bear awareness training, but certain documents to complete the course were missing.

Best's mother, Shelly Cox, believes the tragedy could have been prevented with additional safety measures, such as fences and motion-sensor alarms. The report suggested improvements to safety policies, including public announcements when bears are present and requiring workers to obtain permission before going outside after hours. This incident marked the first known fatality from a bear attack at a North Warning System site in over seventy years of operation.

The Good Life with Lance Dreher