Russian scientists were held captive on a small island off eastern Russia after they exhausted all their non – lethal flares and air horns. The group of five researchers had to endure two weeks of captivity in their compound on Troynoy Island inside the Arctic Circle.
Troynoy Island in the Kara Sea.
On August 31, a polar bear killed one of the watch dogs at the meteorological station and then lingered at the site. Nine other adult polar bears and four cubs then set up camp and at one point an adult female bear was sleeping under the station. Vadim Plotnikov, a scientist at the station described the situation; “A female bear has been sleeping under the station’s windows since Saturday night. It’s dangerous to go out as we have run short of any means to scare off the predators,” Plotnikov said. “We had to stop some of the meteorological observations.”
Global warming and the resulting early sea – ice melt is being blamed by the research group.
“The bears usually go to other islands, but this year they didn’t. The ice receded quickly and the bears didn’t have time to swim to other islands,” stated a spokesperson for the team. “There’s no food … so they came up to the station.”
Polar bear season in Churchill is coming soon, actually just a few short weeks! Thousands of travelers will make the trek to Churchill over a six – week period to witness, up close and personal, one of natures most amazing spectacles, the gathering of polar bears along the Hudson Bay coast. This annual migration of sorts is accessible via the Churchill Wildlife Management Area (CWMA) on polar rovers supplied by Great White Bear Tours exclusively for Natural Habitat Adventures. This could be the time to experience the the majestic north!
Majestic polar bear resting in Churchill. Katie DeMeulles photo.
Mother polar bear and her two coy roam the frozen tundra. Thon Huijser photo.
Polar bears in the snow in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area. Katie de Meulles photo.
Polar bear checking out a polar rover in the CWMA. Melissa Scott Photo.
Sparring polar bears in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area. Colby Brokvist photo.
juvenile polar bear finally over the stress…no worries. drew Hamilton photo.
Video footage of polar bears hunting seals out on the pack ice is rare since accessing the ice can be extremely dangerous and incredibly expensive for film crews. Then, once there, polar bears have to cooperate, actually find the seal dens then attempt to hunt. This short BBC video gives you all an idea of the conditions these majestic polar bears endure while trying to gain the necessary pounds needed to survive the summer months on land in and around Churchill. This truly is one of nature’s toughest tests!
Polar bear season is coming up in about a month in Churchill and polar bears have been gathering in the area over the course of the summer. This past unpredictable Churchill Arctic summer was one of the best in recent history for bear sightings. These images are some classics from past exciting polar bear seasons. Enjoy!
Polar bears sparring in the water in Churchill. Andy Murch/Big Fish Expeditions.com photo.
Polar bears are swimming longer distances especially in the Beaufort Sea. Andrew Derocher photo.
Polar bear sow and cubs in Wapusk National Park. Daisy Gilardini photo.
Polar bear gazing out at the Hudson Bay. Alex De Vries – Magnifico photo.
Polar bears emerging from the willows. Melissa Scott photo.
Polar bears sparring in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area. Natural habitat Adventures photo.
These polar bears are investigating the smells and feel of a tour vehicle. Inquisitive Polar bears are super sensitive to smell and are fearless when it comes to exploring new things in their environment. This is one of those rare times when getting this close to a polar bear is safe…for the most part. Nice shot by Alex De Vries – Magnifico in Churchill last polar bear season!
Polar bears shopping for a new car. Alex De Vries – Magnifico photo.
