by Steve Selden | Oct 12, 2016 | Churchill Photography
In late fall, pre – winter, colors of the tundra and the species that roam the land come to a crossroads of earth tones. This pallet gradually transitions into a great white north we all think of when envisioning the forthcoming and exciting polar bear season. This time is short though one of the most beautiful in the Arctic and surrounding regions.
Multi colored red fox with the colors of the textured tundra behind. Katie deMeulles photo.
Each year during polar bear season in Churchill either red or Arctic foxes tend to be the more prevalent species for that particular season. In recent years there has been an influx of red foxes that have seemingly displaced the gorgeous, white coated Arctic fox population to some extent. Hunting, legal and illegal, has also played a role in lowering the Arctic fox numbers. Warming temperatures facilitate the red fox species to become more adaptive to the northern weather and even ice conditions in winter. The patchwork colors of the red fox in particular meld with the myriad of tundra color splashes.
The colors of the tundra deep into fall in Churchill. Ed Bouvier photo.
Early season photo of a sleepy polar bear. Paul Brown photo.
While snow is imminent in the Churchill region, polar bears will take this time to conserve energy by limiting movement as much as possible. Sleeping bears will soon be wandering restlessly as the snow falls and temperatures drop to freezing or lower by month’s end. Polar bears gazing toward the Hudson Bay in anticipation of a freeze over will become the norm as November marches on.
Lichen growing on rocks in Churchill. Steve Selden photo.
Silver fox scouring tundra for lemmings. Colby Brokvist photo.
The tundra will release the last fruits of its bounty to the scouring animals looking to nurture their bodies with berries, plants or lemmings before the winter hits hard. Changing appearances in foxes, hares and birds foretell the new season that will become a energetic forum of multiple species before the freeze leads to mass exodus lead especially by the king of the Arctic, the mighty polar bear.
Snowy owl on the tundra in the CWMA. Colby Brokvist photo.
A Gyrfalcon in the late fall in Churchill. Brad Josephs photo.
by Steve Selden | Oct 11, 2016 | Churchill News
Polar bear season has finally arrived and the season will kick off tomorrow with the initial group of Natural Habitat Adventures travelers arriving in Churchill and heading out to the Tundra Lodge. The lodge is a train – like grouping of rover style cars connected together to form an incredibly comfortable space to view majestic polar bears and other Arctic wildlife in a serene setting on the open tundra of the Churchill Wildlife Management Area. (CWMA) Nighttime provides a dark environment for viewing northern lights off the open balcony decks.
The remote Natural Habitat Tundra Lodge in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area. Natural Habitat Adventures photo.
Although Churchill has not experienced snow yet this season, it has not deterred polar bears from roaming the tundra and boreal forest. The polar bear below was photographed out by the Aurora Domes just yesterday by Churchill resident Claude Daudet. What a beautiful, clean polar bear to initiate the 2016 season. As you can see, a typical animal this time of year is thinner and awaiting the ice to form on the Hudson Bay. This juvenile seems to be in pretty good shape as he awaits the freeze-over that will allow the seal hunting season will commence.
Beautiful shaggy, white polar bear near the Aurora Domes yesterday. Claude Daudet photo.
After one of the most spectacular northern lights season’s last January and March, Churchill was blessed with one of the best Churchill Arctic summer season’s in recent history as well. We have not had reports of beluga whales lingering in the Churchill River or Hudson Bay like last year though there might be a few stragglers braving the late season.
Northern lights over Churchill. Brad Josephs photo.
Some of the nights in polar bear season offer the right conditions for viewing northern lights. There can be many overcast nights since the Hudson Bay remains usually ice – free through October and into November. Moisture rises and creates the cloud cover though occasionally a breeze will clear the skies for some epic aurora moments…especially mid November when temperatures are falling. We are looking forward to some amazing nights that produce some more other-worldly images above the Hudson Bay!
Polar bears sparring in the Churchill wildlife management Area. Natural Habitat adventures photo.
Polar bear greeting travelers. Natural Habitat Adventures photo.
Stay posted for all the news from Churchill, the polar bear capital of the world! Whether it be sparring polar bears, an exciting bear lift from just outside town or the thrill of eyeing a polar bear just an arm’s length away on a polar rover, churchillpolarbears.org will provide daily updates and photos throughout the season. Pass the blog site link along to a friend so they can share in all the action!
by Steve Selden | Oct 6, 2016 | Churchill Photography
When the northern weather takes a colder turn toward the end of October and onset of November, we see an escalation in sparring activity between polar bears in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area (CWMA). Shorter bouts between bruins begin in mid – October and they become increasingly longer as the season continues through November. Polar bears use this activity as a way to stay strong, alert and practice their dominance for various hierarchy reasons. Until the temperatures drop sufficiently, polar bears will not exert any excess energy at the risk of overheating. Here are some of the best images from past dynamic polar bear seasons in Churchill. Stay tuned for more incredible photos from this coming season!
Polar bears engaging in some sparring. Lori – Ann Martin photo.
Polar bears engaged in sparring. Brad Josephs photo.
Sparring polar bears in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area. Colby Brokvist photo.
Sparring bears in the CWMA. Melissa Scott photo.
Polar bears sparring near the Tundra Lodge. Elise Lockton photo.
Polar bears squaring off on the tundra. Natural Habitat Adventures photo.
paul Brown photo.
by Steve Selden | Oct 4, 2016 | Churchill Photography
Polar bear taking a selfie. Paul Nicklen/National Geographic photo.
A red fox and polar bear getting to know each other. Johansen Krause/National Geographic photo.
Leaping from floe to floe a polar bear makes his way. Lee Hopkins/National Geographic photo.
Polar bears sparring on the pack ice. Paul Nicklen/National Geographic photo.
These four magnificent National Geographic images of polar bears are clearly some of the best out there. In honor of animal day we thought these show the incredible spirit of the iconic threatened species. In a week travelers will come to Churchill to see these hearty polar bears in their natural habitat on the tundra around the Hudson Bay. If you have ever wanted to have such an experience stay posted to this site for all the updates and news from Churchill over the next two months. You might be inspired to take a trip north yourself!
by Steve Selden | Oct 3, 2016 | Churchill Photography
Polar bear sow and cubs in Wapusk National Park. Daisy Gilardini photo.
Polar bear season in Churchill will officially start in about a week even though polar bears have been actively congregating in the region throughout the summer. However, soon there will be huge bear numbers roaming the Churchill Wildlife Management Area and in and around the quiet frontier town on the Hudson Bay. Check us out frequently for updates and photos from the incredible season to come!
