Winter has settled in to the Churchill region. Polar bears are out on Hudson Bay pack ice in search of seal meals in order to stockpile fat for energy supplies that will keep them alive during the ice free months on land. this is the life cycle of the king of the Arctic. Enjoy this look into their incredible lives!
This video of a male polar bear swimming in frigid Arctic seas displays how polar bears have increased their range of habitat in ice – free waters after break – up. Searching for seals for meals has extended past the traditional hunting season and the king of the Arctic can be found 60 miles or more from land swimming between scattered ice floes.
Polar bears have a different way of keeping warm from that of seals and whales. The latter two mammals species have blubber that contains protein and allows for body structure to have a springy, tough fibrous consistency enabling ease of movement in water. Polar bears do not have blubber but rather a layer of adipose fat up to five inches thick that facilitates energy storage for the shoulder seasons when food is scarce. Since polar bears spend the majority of time on land or ice above the water they rely more on the insulation of their fur.
Polar bear’s thick underfur is topped by varied guard hair lengths creating an incredible insulation buffer for the fat layer. The temperature of the fat closest to the polar bears skin is nearly the same as that close to the body core. This temperature consistency allows polar bears to conserve energy effectively.
Polar bear fur is actually transparent and hollow and appearing white from reflecting light. Polar bear fur appears whitest when they just emerge from water and sunlight comes from higher angles. molting occurs in spring and ends by later summer. Seal oil and dirt accumulating in their fur can cause a common yellow tint throughout a good part of the year. The video below illustrates how the fat layer of polar bears works as opposed to blubber of whales and seals.
Happy Memorial Day! Enjoy these fantastic polar bear images from Churchill and have a great holiday!
Polar bears sparring in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area. Natural Habitat Adventures photo.
A telephoto lens enables the photographer to get in close. Natural Habitat Adventures photo.
Hudson Bay helicopter lifting off with a cargo of polar bears. Natural Habitat Adventures photo.
Two coy frolick in the willows. Colby Brokvist photo.
Polar bear greeting travelers. Natural Habitat Adventures photo.
1.- Polar Bears: Not many people are unaware that Churchill is the polar bear mecca for viewing the “king of the Arctic”. During October and November the town is filled with high numbers of travelers hoping to see these amazing creatures in the wild. Of course summer also holds the potential for sighting fewer numbers of polar bears but still the chance exists. If you come during the winter to perhaps view northern lights, you will not see any as they are hunting seals on the Hudson bay ice. So plan a trip during the optimal window and come see the polar bears of Churchill!
Polar bears sparring in the Churchill wildlife management Area. Natural Habitat Adventures photo.
A view across the Cape Merry barrens past the battery and to Fort prince of Wales. Natural Habitat Adventures photo.
Churchill Northern Studies Center. CNSC photo.
Natural Habitat’s Aurora Pod and an avid photographer. Alex de Vries – Magnifico photo.
Ammunition cache at Cape Merry for cannon protection of Fort prince of Wales. Karen Walker photo.
