Five “Other” Animals You Could See In Churchill

Churchill is known worldwide at the best, most accessible place to see polar bears. Now, if you’ve spent much time in this northern Manitoba outpost town you know there’s much more than the “king” of the Arctic. In fact, often it’s the other animals of this remote land on the shores of the Hudson Bay that give travelers thrills. The unexpected often can be as exciting as seeing the main event.

A polar bear lurking in the willows around Churchill, Manitoba.

Polar bear in the willows in Churchill. Eric rock photo.

Here are five other animal attractions around Churchill you could see during polar bear season and possibly other times of the year.

1. Arctic Fox– This icon of the Arctic is one of the most beautiful animals in the north. To some extent the white fox symbolizes the Arctic as much as the mighty polar bear. the population tends to run in cycles and fluctuates with the lemming population and will compete from year to year with the red fox.

Arctic fox sniffing the tundra for prey in Churchill, Manitoba.

Arctic fox sniffing the tundra for prey. Brad Josephs photo.

2. Moose– Usually individual moose can be seen from a polar rover or  from a helicopter journey over the vast tundra.

A moose on the tundra. Brad Josephs photo.

A moose on the tundra. Brad Josephs photo.

3.- Red fox– The “other’ fox in the Arctic has been increasing its range of habitat over the years and even foraging seal-kills out on the Hudson Bay ice pack. The red fox numbers fluctuate from year to year…highly dependent on lemming numbers.

red fox on the Churchill, Manitoba tundra.

Red fox along the coast in Churchill,MB. Brad Josephs photo.

4. Beluga Whale– Although you will not see this whale during polar bear season, you could see polar bears during whale season which can extend until late August and even early September.

Beluga whale in Churchill River.

Beluga whale in the mouth of the Churchill River. Photo-Steve Selden

5. Killer Whale (Orca)- A very rare sight in the Hudson Bay. Occasionally these leviathans surface in areas where they can be seen, usually just outside the mouth of the Churchill River. If you are lucky enough to see one the chances of getting a photo are slim.

killer whales in the Hudson Bay near Churchill, Manitoba.

Orca’s in the Hudson Bay. Dwight Allen photo.

Come to the north and Churchill to see these amazing animals with Natural Habitat Adventures! Visit nathab.com for information.

 

 

 

Polar Bear Photos of The Week

Nearly all polar bears in the Churchill area have ventured onto the Hudson Bay pack ice. Although the northern winter seems unending in the far north, the time for polar bears to gather the sustenance they need from seal-hunting is relatively short. With the extreme weather and ice conditions working consistently to minimize the kill success of polar bears, every opportunity is treated as a golden one. Whatever fat-storage polar bears need to survive the increasingly ice-free summers, the majority must be accumulated through these “ice-solated” interactions. This season most polar bears seemed very healthy overall and hopes for another long ice-season are high.

Sow and cub in Churchill, Manitoba wait for the ice to form.

Sow and cub working the land. Colby Brokvist photo.

Pack ice on the Hudson Bay.

Pack ice forms on the Hudson Bay. Karen Walker photo.

A group of polar bears gathers for some sparring. Sandra Elvin photo.

A group of bears gathers to spar. Sandra Elvin photo.

Polar bears wandering the coast in Churchill,MB.

Two polar bears explore the coastline. Karen Walker photo.

Churchill polar bear on a frozen thermakarst,

Polar bear on the frozen thermakarst near the hudson Bay. Photo: Paul Brown

Churchill . Manitoba displays the amazing aurora.borealis.

Aurora shines brightly in the Churchill night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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