An up close look at what confronting a polar bear in the wild might look and feel like. Scottish filmmaker Gordon Buchanon withstands the tenacious onslaught of a 700lb polar bear trying to sample him for a meal. For over Forty five minutes the bear probed the plexiglass cage in the chilled Arctic air searching for weak spots. Even knowing there’s a solid layer of protection between you and the polar bear can raise more than a few hairs on the back of your neck!
A fresh new documentary by The Nature of Things called: Polar Bears: A Summer Odyssey gives a comprehensive look at how a western Hudson Bay polar bear survives the ice free months of Arctic summer. Survival is linked to determination for these creatures in this new climate!
This video from Seal River, just north along the coast from Churchill, shows a quite similar ecosystem to Churchill. Enjoy the beautiful footage and insightful views from the various biologists working in the area. Nice to hear some good news about the Arctic these days!
Canada day was just a few weeks ago and part of the festivities is the annual Hudson Bay dip took place in Churchill. The dip is an outpouring of community fun and bravery to enter the 40 degree F water. The year I took part there was still ice floating near shore and the water was exceptionally cold. Extremities become numb almost immediately but the thrill is worth the pain! Enjoy the fun from this 2013 footage!
Summer on the Churchill River is predominately for beluga whale watching. However, occasionally each season presents the amazing opportunity to view polar bears on the rocks around Cape Merry or Eskimo Point just north of Fort Prince of Wales across river. This video was filmed by Sea North Tours near Eskimo Point and the sow and cub polar bears are in clear view. What an unbelievable experience for all travelers lucky enough to be aboard the zodiacs in Churchill!
