by Steve Selden | Aug 9, 2016 | Churchill Photography
An awesome photograph by Andy Murch of polar bears sparring in the water in Churchill. Guide Alex De Vries – Magnifico lead the group via zodiac to this secret polar bear hangout. After a morning snorkeling with beluga whales in the Churchill River, this was an amazing way to finish off a great day on the water. This summer polar bears have been prolific most of the season with some groups seeing up to 20 bears. This is unusual as some years sightings can be quite scarce. Enjoy!
Polar bears sparring in the water in Churchill. Andy Murch/Big Fish Expeditions.com photo.
by Steve Selden | Aug 3, 2016 | Videos
Robert Kautuk, from Igloolik, Nunavut, captured this awesome drone footage of walruses swimming and interacting in the Arctic Ocean! Drones have opened up a whole new world of wildlife viewing in areas that are remote and less accessible for conventional video photography. It would be amazing to see some footage of polar bears on the Hudson Bay ice – pack searching out seal dens. Enjoy this excellent video!
by Steve Selden | Jul 21, 2016 | Churchill Photography
This wild shot of a polar bear swimming in the Hudson Bay was captured by Natural Habitat Adventures expedition leader Moira LaPatourel in Churchill. The rare sighting of a polar bear swimming is always an incredible thrill. Keeping a safe distance when in a zodiac or small boat is a good idea. Seeing polar bears in their natural habitat is truly an experience of a lifetime.Enjoy!
Polar bear is alerted to travelers while swimming in the Hudson Bay. Moira LaPatourel photo.
by Steve Selden | Jun 24, 2016 | Videos
Early September, high up on the Arctic’s North Slope, there is a feast truly hard to imagine! Around 80 polar bears gather each year along the rocky, frozen shores of Barter Island, just off the village of Kaktovik, where hunter-harvested bowhead whale remains await the hungry bruins. Since polar bears are generally known as solitary predators, this unique occurrence has peaked the interest of biologists in the north.
A small Inupiat hunting community, Kaktovik seemingly rests on the edge of the world, No roads or train tracks reach this northern outpost and packed sea – ice for nine months of the year isolates the town from most of the world. However, September beckons throngs of scientists and wildlife photographers to the speck of a town to document the incredibly voracious and unusual behavior. With more polar bears turning up year after year, biologists and climate researchers are working to solve the mystery of why this continues to draw a massive congregation of polar bears. Unlocking the clues of this migration is becoming paramount. The South Beaufort Sea polar bear population more and more is choosing to forage on land rather than the traditional sea – ice environment.
Inhabitants of Kaktovik, much like those of Churchill, Manitoba, become intertwined in their lives with the animals once the feast is over. The bears then meander towards town to see what else they can find. Perhaps dessert.
Todd Atwood is the lead polar bear scientist for the U.S. Geological Survey. Through his studies and research in the Arctic, he has estimated that polar bear numbers have declined 40% in the South Beaufort Sea area since 2006. Atwood is on a mission to find out the reason for the drastic decline.
by Steve Selden | Jun 11, 2016 | Churchill Photography
Last chance to enter Natural Habitat Adventures’ Wildlife Photo Contest, the deadline is Tuesday! Submit your best shots for the chance to win one of two epic photography expeditions—a Churchill polar bear adventure or a Yellowstone wildlife safari!
Go here for all the details: https://dailywildlifephoto.nathab.com/contests/1-2016-wildlife-photo-contest
