Polar bear season has finally arrived and the season will kick off tomorrow with the initial group of Natural Habitat Adventures travelers arriving in Churchill and heading out to the Tundra Lodge. The lodge is a train – like grouping of rover style cars connected together to form an incredibly comfortable space to view majestic polar bears and other Arctic wildlife in a serene setting on the open tundra of the Churchill Wildlife Management Area. (CWMA) Nighttime provides a dark environment for viewing northern lights off the open balcony decks.
The remote Natural Habitat Tundra Lodge in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area. Natural Habitat Adventures photo.
Although Churchill has not experienced snow yet this season, it has not deterred polar bears from roaming the tundra and boreal forest. The polar bear below was photographed out by the Aurora Domes just yesterday by Churchill resident Claude Daudet. What a beautiful, clean polar bear to initiate the 2016 season. As you can see, a typical animal this time of year is thinner and awaiting the ice to form on the Hudson Bay. This juvenile seems to be in pretty good shape as he awaits the freeze-over that will allow the seal hunting season will commence.
Beautiful shaggy, white polar bear near the Aurora Domes yesterday. Claude Daudet photo.
After one of the most spectacular northern lights season’s last January and March, Churchill was blessed with one of the best Churchill Arctic summer season’s in recent history as well. We have not had reports of beluga whales lingering in the Churchill River or Hudson Bay like last year though there might be a few stragglers braving the late season.
Northern lights over Churchill. Brad Josephs photo.
Some of the nights in polar bear season offer the right conditions for viewing northern lights. There can be many overcast nights since the Hudson Bay remains usually ice – free through October and into November. Moisture rises and creates the cloud cover though occasionally a breeze will clear the skies for some epic aurora moments…especially mid November when temperatures are falling. We are looking forward to some amazing nights that produce some more other-worldly images above the Hudson Bay!
Polar bears sparring in the Churchill wildlife management Area. Natural Habitat adventures photo.
Stay posted for all the news from Churchill, the polar bear capital of the world! Whether it be sparring polar bears, an exciting bear lift from just outside town or the thrill of eyeing a polar bear just an arm’s length away on a polar rover, churchillpolarbears.org will provide daily updates and photos throughout the season. Pass the blog site link along to a friend so they can share in all the action!
Polar bear taking a selfie. Paul Nicklen/National Geographic photo.
A red fox and polar bear getting to know each other. Johansen Krause/National Geographic photo.
Leaping from floe to floe a polar bear makes his way. Lee Hopkins/National Geographic photo.
Polar bears sparring on the pack ice. Paul Nicklen/National Geographic photo.
These four magnificent National Geographic images of polar bears are clearly some of the best out there. In honor of animal day we thought these show the incredible spirit of the iconic threatened species. In a week travelers will come to Churchill to see these hearty polar bears in their natural habitat on the tundra around the Hudson Bay. If you have ever wanted to have such an experience stay posted to this site for all the updates and news from Churchill over the next two months. You might be inspired to take a trip north yourself!
Polar bear sow and cubs in Wapusk National Park. Daisy Gilardini photo.
Polar bear season in Churchill will officially start in about a week even though polar bears have been actively congregating in the region throughout the summer. However, soon there will be huge bear numbers roaming the Churchill Wildlife Management Area and in and around the quiet frontier town on the Hudson Bay. Check us out frequently for updates and photos from the incredible season to come!
The north has certain times of the year when sunsets and sunrises are exquisite! As fall approaches the colors become more vibrant and crystal clear producing shots like the first image over Great Slave Lake in Yellowknife by Andrew Diveky. The change in temperature and moisture level in the air combine to allow for the best optics and clarification in the sky.
During the winter, especially the early part when the Hudson Bay still has open water, the same affect with even more brilliant colors produces incredible sunsets and rises. Ice crystals in the atmosphere in early morning and later afternoon facilitate a magnification of light and colors to produce vivid sky scapes. Other features such as sun – dogs, rainbows and horizon mirages are also produced during these conditions.
Churchill’s incredible landscape and wildlife diversity provide an eclectic foreground features for the sensational colors of the morning and evening skies. These are some of the best shots from the north. Stay tuned for more awesome shots to come!
Great Slave Lake sunset. Andrew Diveky photo.
Sunset in Clyde River, Nunavut. Nick Illauq photo.
Awesome sunset shot nfrom the beach in Churchill. Alex De Vries – Magnifico photo.
A short video clip by National Geographic documenting springtime for beluga whales in the north. Belugas migrate south in the spring from the Hudson Straits to the estuaries of the Hudson Bay. Thousands of belugas make the trip to the warmer waters and shallow, gravelly rivers to give birth, nurture young and gorge on capelin and other plentiful marine organisms. There’s no other time like spring and summer in the Churchill region. Life is bursting from the tundra and the sea and rivers. What an amazing time to experience the northern web of life…Arctic style!
