Polar bear stats reflect a slight rise in numbers though most polar bears have not moved much since the last report. There have been individual animals recently hazed and darted in the town of Churchill and Polar Bear Alert will be ramping up surveillance as the polar bear season progresses. We are excited to share all the highlights and images from Churchill, the polar bear capital of the world.
Manitoba Conservation officer sedates a polar bear with a dart. Rhonda Reid photo.
Polar bear looking for cover among the rocky coastal area in Churchill. Rhonda Reid photo.
On the trail of a rogue polar bear in Churchill. Rhonda Reid photo.
Darted polar bear still putting up a fight. Rhonda Reid photo.
A polar bear nearing the town limits was darted and sedated from a helicopter by Manitoba Conservation officers today. The bear would not be taken easily, however. The chase took over an hour and two sedation darts were needed to bring this polar bear into custody. This bear charged a Conservation vehicle and then was finally brought under control and transported to the Polar Bear Holding Facility. The bear has since been released.
Churchill is pretty quiet at the moment bear wise. A few polar bears are being spotted daily in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area. Small thermokarst ponds have yet to freeze over though once they do polar bears will be moving and heading towards Churchill proper and surrounding area. The polar bear season is just 10 days away and the action will be heating up as the temperatures cool down in Churchill. Stay posted for all the news from the north!
Conservation officers in Churchill are always on alert when keeping the town safe from polar bears approaching the isolated village on the Hudson Bay coast. This video highlights the process once the polar bear is captured. Polar bear monitoring is a complicated and measured skill taken very seriously in the high north. Communities rely on conservation officers in order to live a safe and somewhat stress free daily life.
Polar bear family lounging on the rocks in Churchill. Dorota Walkoski photo.
Summer is here and polar bears appear on the rocks and tundra of Churchill’s Arctic landscape seemingly out of nowhere. If you keep a keen eye the chances are great that you will see polar bears in the north country! Enjoy!
