A fast start to polar bear season 2014 has excited Natural Habitat guides and travelers sighting polar bears and other Arctic wildlife all over the tundra of the Churchill Wildlife Management Area (CWMA).
Polar bear resting in the rocks.
Not to be outdone, although yearly, they clearly are, elevated numbers of ptarmigan scurried across the tundra…slipping in and out of the cover of willow stands. Guide Elise and group enjoyed the wide expanse of the land dotted by the flightless birds and then headed over to the Tundra Lodge where sparring bears gained widespread approval of wide-eyed onlookers aboard the polar rover.
Another male polar bear on approach and one lounging out on the point beyond the lodge nibbling on grass were some bonus sightings for the early season group.
Overall it was an “incredibly diverse day of sun, snow and varying temperatures” according to Elise.
Two polar bears spar in front of a pond, Brad Josephs photo,
A lurking bear close to the school today might have been the same bear to inspire cracker shots from Manitoba Conservation officers last night.
As most of us slowly ease into the fall season and notice the changing colors on the deciduous trees in North America, Churchill,MB has already been greeted with a coating of early winter snow. Cool temperatures forecast for the next several days are a great start to the season and a harbinger of a long, cold winter on the shores of the Hudson Bay. Hopefully another long season for polar bears out on the Hudson Bay ice pack for ample seal hunting.
First snowy night in Churchill,MB. Katie DeMeulles photo.
As the current polar bear season gets into gear, with the first Natural Habitat group out on the tundra lodge, many more eager travelers await their upcoming charter flight from Winnipeg to Churchill and a chance to see what we feel is the worlds most majestic and intriguing animal on the planet…the mighty polar bear.
Here are some past polar bear photo’s to get you all excited about new images and video coming in the next month and a half of exciting trips to the Churchill Wildlife Management Area and the surrounding region of Churchill,MB. Enjoy and keep tuned in to churchillpolarbears.org to get updates on all the news from the north.
Polar bear sow and cub on the precambrian shield.
Up close and personal with a polar bear.
Sparring polar bears in the CWMA. Rick Pepin photo.
A polar bear relaxes and cools in the snow. Colby Brokvist photo.
Anyone who thinks that fall is the only time you can see polar bears in Churchill, MB hasn’t ventured north in the summertime to the Hudson Bay. Local resident Jodi Grosbrink took these recent photos of some majestic “summer” bears out in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area. Enjoy!
One of the most photogenic yet underrated Arctic animals is the Arctic fox. This svelt little bundle of energy was recorded out in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area earlier in the polar bear season by Natural Habitat guide Colby Brokvist…see, we don’t call it “Arctic fox season” ….These creatures are incredible to watch and photograph..enjoy!
Natural habitat photography guide Colby Brokvist had polar bear action right out of the gate for his avid group of image takers. A sow with her coy were found out on the coast road ambling along the magnificent Hudson Bay. Cameras heated as shutters fired away at the majestic pair amidst frosty conditions.
The following three days on the tundra of the Churchill Wildlife Management Area (CWMA) were nearly perfect wildlife and weather-wise. The travelers, aboard their polar rover spent their entire first day near the lodge with several polar bears. Highlighting the afternoon were some big males sparring in the snow.
Polar bear near the Tundra Lodge. Colby Brokvist photo.
The following day was “awesome”, according to Colby. The group reached Gordon Point by early morning and quickly spotted two fairly fresh seal kills attended to by four voracious polar bears. The bears finished their meal before low tide, though blood stains were spotted on the ice and photographs were made of glaucous gulls, ravens and arctic foxes cleaning up leftovers . Some close encounters further along the trail road with a couple of other bears and then a very photogenic arctic fox rounded off the day and provided some great moments for classic shots.
Historic building by the Hudson Bay. Colby Brokvist photo.
The third day out in the CWMA was equally exciting as the group headed back to the lodge. Colby received a tip that a new, larger bear had taken up residence out there. Upon arriving and finding six polar bears the group had more than enough interactions to satisfy their passion. Three bears engaged in heated sparring with “unbelievable light”. stated Colby. “I don’t recall ever seeing sparring and sunshine at the same time …making this even more special.” Something new every day out in bear territory.
Inukshuk group photo with aurora over the bay. Colby Brokvist photo.
The group finished off the day with a long session of aurora photography at the huge, stone inukshuk behind the town complex facing the Hudson Bay. Rounding out an amazing day, the ethereal lights were perfect for the photo trip. Mild conditions added a key ingredient for a productive shoot.
Gorgeous red fox on the tundra. Colby Brokvist photo.
Finishing up the trip strong, the group enjoyed their sightseeing shuttle covereing the area around town in search of smaller critters. An extremely charismatic red fox stole the show before the crew headed out to the polar bear holding facility where they finished off with a bear evacuation lift. Captured polar bears are airlifted by helicopter up north along the bay and released to keep them free from human contact for a period of time. Quite a sight to see the event as they take off from Churchill!
