Churchill experienced one of the earliest snowfalls of a polar bear season in many years yesterday. Chilly temperatures and white ground cover have provided nice early season conditions for polar bears out on the tundra. These photos of a mother and cub are exciting fresh images to start the new season. This is looking like it could be one of the best polar bear seasons in a long time!
First polar bears at the tundra lodge in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area. Jason Luoma photo.
Three polar bears investigating a research cable in the Southern Beaufort Sea.
A cable tethered to $200,000 worth of water sampling research equipment two miles below the southern Beaufort Sea was attacked by three polar bears. Ironically, the equipment is part of a study researching climate change.
The polar bears swam up to the research vessel deploying the equipment and began chewing on the cable securing the system to the ship. The researchers yelled out and waved arms frantically in order to dissuade the bears and ultimately scare them from the cable. With the cable in tact the research team raised the equipment and relocated to a new site away from the polar bear trio.
The video below portrays three healthy bears gnawing at the research cable. Researchers assured concerned viewers that the polar bears were in healthy condition overall.
Northern lights in Churchill continue through the summer and into fall. Katie de Meulles captured this image last night with the lights of Churchill in the background. With polar bear season just around the corner, travelers to Churchill will be eager to catch a glimpse of lights while tracking polar bears out on the tundra. Looking like a phenomenal season ahead with many polar bears and great aurora action skyward!
Northern lights with Churchill in the background. Katie de Meulles photo.
Thomas Mangelsen, one of the premier wildlife photographers on the planet, journeyed to Churchill and the Hudson Bay region four years ago and captured this unbelievable footage of polar bear cubs and mother emerging from their den to play. The denning area located in the Wapusk National Parc is one of the most concentrated denning areas in the world. Still, the timing for capturing such incredible polar bear behavior is not always predictable. In fact days may go by before a photographer gets any action at all. Enjoy!
An informative video on polar bears in the Arctic and the safety precautions implemented to avoid and confront potential polar bear attacks and interactions in the north! Enjoy and comment on the film! Churchill is the focus of this video that shows the dynamic between people and polar bears in the north.
