Amazing experiences have come from this polar bear season in Churchill, Manitoba for Natural Habitat Adventures guide Moira Le Patourel! “I am thoroughly enjoying my third season in Churchill and have been absolutely thrilled with the sights that have come my way while guiding the six-day and seven-day Classic adventures this season. My guests and I have been lucky enough to enjoy encounters with snowy owls, arctic fox, red fox, arctic hare and LOTS of incredible views of polar bears (and polar boulders too!).” reported Le Patourel.
Magnifecent light over the tundra in Churchill. Moira Le Patourel photo.
“One of my favourite moments of the season thus far was a late-in-the-day sighting of a female polar bear. She was spotted laying beside a frozen pond, along our road home. We were able to sit with her for a while, as the sun began to set on the tundra and on this beautiful bear. At first it seemed like only one adult bear was laying down, until a small black nose and a pair of ears poked out from behind. Smiles shone all around our Rover as we realized that we had the privilege of being in the presence of a mother polar bear and her cub of the year. The light faded slowly and all too soon we had to head home, leaving the mother and cub behind; our Rover crew silent in communal contentment, and smiling, appreciating all things polar bear.” stated Le Patourel.
As we come down the stretch of another incredible polar bear season in Churchill, excitement is overflowing from guides and travelers as well. Fresh perspectives from guides in Churchill enable us all to see the polar bear world with a clear mind and vision.
Natural Habitat Adventures guide Drew Hamilton’s photo group travelers snapped these pretty cool polar bear shots from their cell phones. Granted, the majority of the group posses numerous fancy, high powered lenses as one photo depicts, though it just shows that these days the quality of cameras in phones can produce excellent images. These polar bear photos are from photographers with all the gear and they still got the shots using minimal technology. Polar bears are curious animals and are attracted to most foreign smells out on the tundra. This allows travelers to usually get close and personal with bears as they approach the polar rovers.
Polar bears have an incredible sense of smell. Robin Snow photo.
Polar bear up close and personal in Churchill. Dean Snow photo.
Photo group with all the gear. Emily Chang photo.
Polar bear face through the Rover deck grate. Dean Snow photo.
Brad Joseph’s caught this polar bear image at just the right time as ravens were descending on the carcass. The seal kill drew around 30 polar bears last week to the the area around Gordon point in the Churchill wildlife Management Area. Seal kills have become more prevalent on the coast in the time leading up to the Hudson Bay freezing. Polar bears are using their cunning hunting skills to adapt to a longer time off ice. without the ice platform bears are unable to hunt seals in their dens or emerging from blowholes.Learning to find sustenance on land during the shoulder seasons has enable hungry polar bears to sustain their robust population in the western Hudson Bay.
Polar bear and ravens scavenge a seal kill carcass in Churchill Wildlife Management Area. Brad Josephs photo.
Amidst the magnificent diversity of wildlife viewing this polar bear season, another phenomena has captured the attention of many travelers to the north country. Clearly the highlight of this polar bear season in Churchill has been the fairly consistent northern lights and their multi – colored displays in the northern sky. Polar bear sparring, particularly out around the Tundra Lodge in the Churchill Wildlife management Area, has been steady and exciting over the past couple of weeks. Clear skies have provided the opportunity for northern lights viewing for almost every Natural Habitat Adventures group this season. Incredible night shows!
Northern lights above the confines of the boreal forest in Churchill. Alex De Vries – Magnifico photo.
Over the years, Churchill has revealed some other, less visible wildlife such as moose, wolves, pine martens and perigrine falcons. This image below by Natural Habitat Adventures guide Colby Brokvist of a wolverine is one of the best I’ve ever seen out of Churchill. Colby reported that, “the animal climbed up the tree to try and swat the helicopter out of the air, protecting his ground.” just an amazing shot!
Wolverine climbing tree out on the tundra. Colby Brokvist photo.
These next few polar bear photos by Natural Habitat guide Drew Hamilton are great shots of the relaxation process polar bears go through during this time of walking hibernation. Polar bears do engage in sparring and active walking and hunting if possible though much of their time during the fall is spent conserving energy in the snow, kelp or willows.
Polar bear in a kelp bed. Drew Hamilton photo.
Polar bear sporting a battle scar. Drew Hamilton photo.
Relaxing polar bear in Churchill. Drew Hamilton photo.
This closing shot by Natural Habitat guide Colby Brokvist is typical of what this season has delivered with regards to incredible aurora borealis. This could be the best season for northern lights we have seen in a decade in Churchill…lets hope it continues for the next few weeks.
Magnificent northern lights over the inukshuk by the Hudson Bay in Churchill. Colby Brokvist photo.
Churchill, Manitoba is the place to see polar bears. October and November are the prime – time months to see polar bears as they congregate along the shores of the Hudson Bay to await the ice forming. Once the bay freezes bears wander to find their main food source to restore their vital fat reserves. Seals, forming dens on the ice surface, are breakfast, lunch and dinner for these voracious mammals. This short video lets you experience the initial thrill of tracking and finding polar bears with Natural Habitat Adventures guide Brad Josephs in Churchill. Enjoy!
Churchill’s polar bear season is running along smoothly and bear counts are increasing daily. The hudson Bay has a buffer of land – fast ice that will continue to expand with cooler temperatures. Northern lights have been sharing the spotlight with polar bears so far this season with incredible shows over the last few nights. Check out these tantalizing northern lights photos by Drew Hamilton!
Northern lights above the inukshuk in town. Drew Hamilton photo.
Last night had a high rating of probability, six, which is very infrequent according to Natural Habitat Adventures guide Eric Rock. Natural Habitat adventures Guides in Churchill expressed that last nights lights were some of the best they have ever seen in the north. Northern lights could be seen as far south as the northern united states with fascinating displays reported from many.
Tantalizing northern lights in the Churchill sky. Drew Hamilton photo.
Churchill’s main northern lights season occurs in February and March with increased probability of seeing the spectacle. Since the Hudson Bay and Churchill River are frozen solid at that time of year, night skies tend to have more cloudless nights without water being drawn up from the Hudson Bay by prevailing north winds. These amazing displays are a bonus for travelers seeking out the polar bears and other Arctic wildlife of the Churchill region.
Natural Habitat Adventures travelers by the inukshuk under aurora. Drew Hamilton photo.
Northern lights from the boreal forest. Drew Hamilton photo.
Boreal forest view of the northern lights. Drew Hamilton photo.
