A polar bear visiting and inflicting damage to a cabin near Longyearbyen on Wednesday night that was chased away by a rescue helicopter is believed to be the same one seen in the area that was also chased off during the weekend, according to The Governor of Svalbard.
“We’re not quite sure, but the polar bear has a similar injury to that of the Saturday bear, Police Chief Lt. Espen Olsen told Svalbardposten. “It is therefore obvious to think that it is the same bear.”
The bear damaged a door at a cabin at Hiorthhamn before the helicopter chased it off just before 11 p.m. Visits by one or more bears to the area across the bay from Longyearbyen are common during late summer, with many sightings believed to be the same bear over a period of years.
Officials are continuing to monitor the area, and residents both in Longyearbyen and the vicinity of the cabins have been posting recent sightings on social media at the time they happen.