Alex De Vries – Magnifico took this incredible Churchill sunset through the boreal forest on the outskirts of town. Sunsets are pretty amazing this time of year in the Churchill region! Polar bear season is surely the time to see diverse wildlife, especially polar bears, though the sunsets are second to none in our opinion! Enjoy.
Churchill sunset through the boreal forest. Alex De Vries – Magnifico.
A Natural Habitat Adventures group of travelers lead by seasoned guide Brad Josephs had this phenomenal experience of a large male polar bear checking out the groups polar rover out in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area. Being inches from the Arctic’s king of the food chain is quite the thrilling and life changing moment. Polar bears are naturally inquisitive and are attracted to many different smells. This time of year as they wait for the Hudson Bay to freeze – up so they can replenish their body fat by hunting seals, nearly everything smells appetizing. Good thing those rovers are built high off the tundra! Polar bear season in Churchill is constantly surprising us all.
With the current polar bear season in Churchill heading towards the end we have some classic images from Natural Habitat Adventures guides for you. These guides work tirelessly to provide travelers with the most awesome experience in the sub – Arctic. This season has been a challenge with the moderate temperatures influencing polar bear behavior and movement out on the tundra. We still have had some incredible bear and other wildlife encounters that have produced fantastic images all season. Enjoy!
A polar bear emerges from the willows in the Churchill mist. Drew Hamilton photo.
Sunlight on a healthy polar bear in Churchill. Eric Rock photo.
Red fox chasing lemmings on the tundra. Drew Hamilton photo.
Polar bear paw displaying claws. Drew Hamilton photo.
Polar bear family roaming the misty tundra. Brad Josephs photo.
This iconic stoic photo of a polar bear waiting for sea ice to form on the Hudson Bay is classic. Polar bears are so patient and live a good part of their life in anticipation of a simple surface on which to hunt seals and find nourishment to live. That surface seems a little more complicated and compromised these days as the weather is certainly changing. This polar bear season in Churchill has been warmer than any in recent history and the affect on polar bears has been noticeable. Hoping for a massive cool down so our white, furry friends can head out to the ice!
Polar bear waiting patiently for sea ice to form on the Hudson Bay. Drew Hamilton photo.
Polar bear occurrences in Churchill are becoming more frequent as bear numbers are growing in anticipation of the Hudson Bay freeze – up. The Polar Bear Holding facility is at half – capacity with two bear lifts scheduled for Monday and Tuesday at 1:30 for each. Temperatures are supposed to drop later this week and the cold should be consistent from then on into the heart of the northern winter. This polar bear season has been an odd one for sure with the moderate warmth for the first half of the season. All in all we still have amazing wildlife action with polar bears across the Churchill Wildlife Management Area!
Polar bear statistics for the week. Manitoba Conservation image.
These amazing photographs by Natural Habitat Adventures guide Brad Josephs in Churchill are diverse in content and exhibit the awesome range of wildlife viewing travelers have been seeing on the tundra of the Churchill Wildlife Management Area. With more than a week to go in this phenomenal polar bear season there’s still much more action to see from Churchill!
Polar bear observing the polar rover. Brad Josephs photo.
Relaxing polar bear in a kelp bed. Brad Josephs photo.
Polar bear awakens to an Arctic fox prowling nearby. Brad Josephs photo.
Two ravens harass a snowy owl on the tundra. Brad Josephs photo.
Snowy owl strikes back at the ravens. Brad Josephs photo.
Polar bears explore a polar rover out in the CWMA. Brad Josephs photo.
