Polar bears are not native to Iceland, but they are a protected species in the country, and it is forbidden to kill one at sea. However, they can be killed if they pose a threat to humans or livestock.

The bear was killed Thursday afternoon in the northwest of Iceland after police consulted the Environment Agency

Icelandic police shot a polar bear near a cottage in northwestern Iceland after consulting the Environment Agency. The bear likely traveled from Green

Although polar bears are a protected species in Iceland, authorities are permitted to use lethal force if the animals pose a threat to humans or livestock. Encounters with polar bears in Iceland are exceptionally rare, with only 600 recorded sightings since the ninth century.

Polar bears aren’t native to Iceland, though an occasional vagrant arrives from Greenland. So, it was quite a surprise for an elderly resident of a remote village to find one raiding her bins. Panicked,

A rare polar bear that was spotted outside a cottage in a remote village in Iceland was shot by police after being considered a threat, authorities said Friday. The bear was killed Thursday afternoon in the northwest of Iceland after police consulted the Environment Agency,