Local wildlife officers in Iqaluit have been looking for a polar bear that was apparently spotted near Sylvia Grinnell River.

People have been notifying the wildlife office of polar bear sightings but so far, officers haven't found the animal.

The latest report came from a cargo ship which spotted a bear near the river early Wednesday morning.

The local Hunters and Trappers Organization is warning people to be on the lookout, especially those who go fishing at the river.

Methuselah Kunuk, a spokesperson for Amarok Hunters and Trappers Organization, said bears are sometimes hard to spot.

"People should be on the lookout at all times, as some people do not carry guns with them," said Kunuk.

Kunuk added that there are still three polar bear tags available in Iqaluit for the summer hunt season which opened this month.

Two tags have been used up as bears were harvested further down Frobisher Bay.