Churchill Polar Bears - Dispatches from the Polar Bear Capital of the World

Polar Bear Season Going Strong

by Steve Selden | Nov 17, 2015 | Churchill Photography

Polar bear season is finishing strong this year with almost no threat of early ice forming in the Hudson Bay. Polar bears will be here for the duration and maybe even a bit after all travelers have returned back home. This epic polar bear season has provided many thrills and they keep coming. These fine images by Natural Habitat Adventures guide Drew Hamilton are some of the best of the season. It’s hard to believe the six week journey is coming to a close. Enjoy!

Polar bear in Churchill. Drew Hamilton photo.

Polar bear sow with her two cubs walk by the Ithaca shipwreck in the Hudson Bay, Churchill. Drew Hamilton photo.

Polar bear eye. Drew Hamilton photo.

Polar bear sow and cubs near a polar rover in Churchill. Drew Hamilton photo.

Drew Hamilton polar bears in Churchill, Manitoba

Polar bear sow and cubs in Churchill. Drew Hamilton photo.

Vivid sunset in Churchill. Drew Hamilton photo.

Hudson Bay Quest Roster Filling Fast

by Steve Selden | Nov 16, 2015 | Tour News

Hudson Bay Quest dog eager to run. Laurie Dingwall photo.

This year’s Hudson Bay Quest will start in Churchill on Thursday March 17th (St. Patty’s Day) and finish in Gillam! Should be quite a celebration with some green beer at the start line. Come to Churchill and see the northern lights and the start of a great race!

1.) Dan DiMuzio
Kennel – Sleddog Energy
Churchill, MB

2.) Charlie Lundie
Kennel – Charlie’s Kennel
Churchill, MB

3.) David Daley
Kennel – Wapusk Adventures
Churchill, MB

4.) Justin Allen
Kennel – Wapusk Adventures
Churchill, MB

5.) Peter McClelland
Kennel – White Wilderness
Ely, MN, USA

6.) Shawn McCarty
Kennel – White Wilderness
Ely, MN, USA

7.) Jamie Nelson
Kennel – Rocky Glenn
Togo, MN, USA

8.) Craig Houghton
Kennel – Craig and Sean Racing Dogs
Fort St. James, BC

9.) Bruce Langmaid
Kennel – Cashman Creek Sleddogs
Kearney, ON

10.) Leanne Bergen
Kennel – Gone to the Dogs Racing
Sioux Lookout, ON

11.) Matt Groth
Kennel – Grand Marais Sled a Dog Adventures
Grand Marais, MN, USA

Welcome to the HBQ!

Churchill Photos – Polar Bear Season

by Steve Selden | Nov 14, 2015 | Churchill Photography

Some amazing photos from Churchill by Natural Habitat Adventures expedition leader Justin Gibson. The threat of an early freeze – up in the Hudson Bay seems to be gone as the pack ice that had formed last week has blown out in the bay. Looking forward to another week or so of fantastic polar bear viewing and Arctic exploring in the north!

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Patience of a Churchill Polar Bear

by Steve Selden | Nov 13, 2015 | Tour News

A polar bear waiting patiently for the hudson Bay to freeze. Michelle Viengkone photo.

by Michelle Viengkone

Some of us practice mindfulness, while others run free-throw drills or perfect our soufflés. Nonetheless, patience is required for the task at hand and if I may add, most generously so, towards ourselves.Polar bears could teach us some lessons.

Having spent time on the tundra, what continues to strike me most has been the patience that polar bears demonstrate when waiting for the ice to form. The bears that we are fortunate enough to observe are a part of the Western Hudson Bay sub-population. These bears are forced ashore during the summer months because the Hudson Bay undergoes seasonal ice break-up. By the time November strolls along, these polar bears have already been fasting for 5 months and it is not surprising that they can be more than a little “hangry”.

The male polar bear pictured waits patiently at the base of the spit in front of the Tundra Lodge watching the ice slowly build up. Restless, he may engage in some sparring with other males to pass the time. Swatting, pushing, and lunging are all in good fun on land. But it is also not uncommon to see bears lounging around within the willows or digging shallow beds along the coast awaiting their chance to take their first steps onto ice to catch their next meal. As the bears keep an eye on the Bay and forming sea ice, we as wildlife enthusiasts must be on the lookout for the bears; eyes peeled for a yellowish rock-like critter. This can be a challenging task as we bounce along on the rover with blowing snow impairing our line of sight. However, good things come to those who wait.

The sight of one’s first polar bear is magical. I have been lucky to witness these moments play out as travelers eyes light up with excitement peering from the rover. I have overheard the sing-song chatter remarking about the size and beauty of this iconic Arctic animal. I have given gentle reminders to pause the snapping of photos and have encouraged the simple act of watching the bear in that moment. Sometimes we rush through things – I know I have – paying little attention to the details, getting muddled or bogged down. Advice from one wildlife enthusiast to another: slow it down, and soak it in. Make like a polar bear and be patient, the Arctic may surprise you.

Wildlife Photos From Churchill

by Steve Selden | Nov 12, 2015 | Churchill Photography

These beautiful wildlife photos from Rhonda Reid in Churchill depict the incredible bounty of this years polar bear season. Enjoy!

Polar bear sow and cubs in Churchill. Rhonda Reid photo.

Beautiful polar bear in Churchill. Rhonda Reid photo.

Arctic Hare at Cape Merry. Rhonda Reid photo.

Polar bears at play in Churchill. Rhonda Reid photo.

Churchill Guide Notes – Colby Brokvist

by Steve Selden | Nov 11, 2015 | Tour News

Natural Habitat Adventures guide Colby Brokvist has experienced quite the polar bear season so far in Churchill! One of his initial groups of travelers witnessed unbelievable sparring sessions on a sunny day close to the Tundra Lodge. The scene became even more intense when the three sparring male polar bears were interrupted by a smaller three year – old female approaching from first tower to the east. One of the males pushed her off into the willows where she laid down for a rest. After the sparring had cooled off she returned and checked out all the polar rovers in the area and gave thrills to all travelers aboard!

Sparring polar bears in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area. Colby Brokvist photo.

Another sparring session that same afternoon matched two huge male polar bears going at it for about 25 minutes. ” I’d thought they would be overheating by now!” Colby expressed to his travelers. Amazing how polar bears can expend so much energy in a time when they are trying to conserve in a big way. It just shows how important this ritual of mock fighting is to the species survival. This year has been filled with outrageous displays..more so then years past.

Polar bears wrestling in the willows. Natural habitat photo.

With a more recent group Colby and driver navigated the rover out to the Tundra Lodge after spotting a sow and her cub close to launch. The morning seemed “quiet” reported Colby so they decided to move inland a bit toward an esker to the east. Just below the esker back toward the Hudson Bay the group sighted another sow and her coy (cub of the year) on the flats with amazing views toward the bay and surrounding lowlands. What a way to spend the late morning..beats an office coffee break by far!

polar bear sow and cub churchill, Manitoba

Sow and cub test the land fast ice of the Hudson Bay. Colby Brokvist photo.

Around lunch, camped in the same spot, patience paid off big time. An adolescent polar bear wandered up to the rover and investigated the rear deck of their polar rover. if one got any closer to a polar bear there would be teeth marks at best. The steel grated deck provides the needed protection here. Nearby a number of sleeping bears worked on conserving the energy spent in morning sparring sessions in the squared tundra.

Later on at Halfway Point the day concluded with a superb 15 minutes observing a rough – legged hawk hunt along the tundra. Not much more of a nature experience then that. All in all an incredible trip in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area!

wolverine in a spruce tree in Churchill. Colby Brokvist photo.

One of the most exciting aspects of a trip to Churchill is a helicopter flight over the north land. This rare shot of a wolverine was captured by Colby as they flew over the boreal forest. Amazing! And for good measure a polar bear chugging through some land fast ice in the Hudson Bay!