A partly cloudy morning gave way to bright sunshine in the early afternoon while temperatures stayed below zero. Wind chills were recorded at about -24F. Ice continues to form at a rapid pace allowing polar bears freedom to test the land-fast ice building along the coast. All the fresh water pouring from the Churchill and Seal River’s freezes rapidly when dumped into the bay. Huge ice chunks forming mini bergs in the rivers are ferried out when the tide turns.. creating a log jam along the coast. Water between the chunks freezes and binds them together initiating a patchwork -like platform extending into the Hudson Bay.
Travelers with Guide Scott witnessed this happening early in the day as they moved toward the coast in the CWMA. On the way a lone male passed by as they traveled the inland road toward Halfway Point. Two arctic foxes frenetically searched for lemmings, noses to tundra, all around the parked rover. Scanning the coastal tidal zone out past the point, the group viewed many bears tentatively stepping on the freshly formed surface. One stubborn bruin moved with reckless abandon and continually plunged through ice into the icy water. I have seen this before myself….incredibly mesmerizing to watch. Goose bumps every time the bear crashes through.
Later in the morning the bears began moving inland from the coast. As Scott’s folks enjoyed some coffee close to the tundra lodge, a couple of younger bears were near the rover curious though tentative. Just about noon many big males wandered into the area, pushing each other around with dominance tests. A couple of scrappy three and a half year old bears herded each other around under the lodge. These 700lb scarred males were growling incessantly while they kicked at and chased each other back and forth from the position underneath. One of the big boys came up to the rover and stood up to just under the back railing around the deck Scott kept an eye on his travelers ..not allowing them too close to the rail. Bears love finger food.
Photo: Paul Brown
As the afternoon continued, a group of five large males gathered in the distance by some willows and began to play-fight. They were paired off now just 10-15 meters off the back grate as the rover was able to position more closely. At times the sparring got pretty serious with hard, aggressive shoves into each others’ chest. The action there was accentuated by full light from the emerging sun and a good three hours of amazing viewing was enjoyed by all.
Leaving the tundra the group could see more bears out along the ice edge again this time bathed in the orange glow of another amazing sunset.
Scott – I have been planning our trip to Churchill and stumbled across this blog this AM.
I think your group is the way I’ll have to go. Sounds professional and close to the action. We were thinking 22/Oct for a week next year… are the bears good then or should we plan into November? I know the weather has really dropped in temperature a lot in the last week or so.
Matt
Matt,
The end of October can be great viewing time…this season was a little weird but still good. I think you should definitely give a call and speak with a travel specialist. If you have any more specific questions regarding Churchill feel free to write me anytime. Thanks for the inquiry,
Steve
How is the freeze coming?
Hi Vicki….frozen up and bears on ice. How was your trip?
Steve
Scott, I was there over a month ago. Has the Bay frozen over yet? The bears were hungry when I was there. Please update us!!!! Are they out on the ice yet and getting the prey? Did they all make it? What about pregnant females? What is their condition?
Jane Fitzwilliam
Jane,
refer to the Nov. 24 blog…all is well in Churchill.
Steve
What does the sighting of Orca’s in the bay signify?
Thanks for your blog updates.
Hi Laura,
Although rare, the sightings of orca’s in the bay just means that they do come near Churchill periodically. I theorized that might be one reason why there were so many seal kills by polar bears this season. They may have driven some seals into the shallows. In Summer through my experience of guiding beluga whale trips, I knew if orca’s were around as well as Inuit hunters as the beluga’s were very skiddish and stayed under the water at those times. Your welcome.
Steve