Is it safe to camp in Iceland, due to increasing polar bear numbers?
My plan for this August is to visit Iceland, spending most of the trip camping along the ring road. However, in my research I came across some information about the increasing frequency of stray polar bears from Greenland. I realize that even these increased numbers are still very small, maybe one or two a year. However, I just wanted to know the thoughts of some native Icelanders about the safety of camping.

Question

Is it safe to camp in Iceland, due to increasing polar bear numbers?
My plan for this August is to visit Iceland, spending most of the trip camping along the ring road.  However, in my research I came across some information about the increasing frequency of stray polar bears from Greenland.  I realize that even these increased numbers are still very small, maybe one or two a year.  However, I just wanted to know the thoughts of some native Icelanders about the safety of camping.

Answer

Any polar bears that do make it to Iceland are immediately shot, so there is absolutely no danger of you bumping into one in the middle of the night! I think the wording 'increasing frequency of stray polar bears' is more media hype than reality, and it is definitely not one or two per year! The last ones were in 2008 and 2010. This is the good news. The bad news is that we have been having an extremely wet and rainy summer this year, so do take this into consideration if you plan on camping the whole time.

Answer

Im from Iceland, Ive never heard of a person stumbling across a polar bear while camping

Answer

No polar bears in Iceland so you will be safe and sound sleeping in your tent.

Answer

http://www.polarbearsinternational.org/news-room/news/stray-polar-bear-shot-iceland