Polar Bears – Waiting For Ice

In November 2012, I had the opportunity to join a photography trip to Canada’s Hudson Bay in search of polar bears. Since 2012, I have made several more successful trips to the area in search of bears. The stark treeless landscape has a rugged beauty that is best described in photos. When a majestic polar bear appears on this landscape, it is a breath-taking sight. They are the masters of this domain, and they know it. Spending time with these bears is something I will never tire of doing. That is why I continue to plan new ways to explore this remote part of Canada.

In late fall, the Western Hudson Bay bear population starts to congregate along the shoreline waiting for fast ice to form on the bay. The ice formation signals the beginning of Polar Bears travelling out on to the ice where they spend the entire winter hunting seals. Hudson Bay is very shallow and ice forms early when the temperatures drop. Some bears will migrate northward along the western shore in search of early ice. This stretch of coastline is sometimes called the Polar Bear Highway. Other bears congregate near Churchill Manitoba where the Churchill River spills into Hudson Bay. The bears have chosen this spot as their launch point onto the Bay because ice historically forms early in this location.

The town of Churchill is in the ideal location for viewing Polar Bears. Fresh water from the Churchill River encounters colder salt water brought by currents from the north. The fresh river water is less dense than the colder salt water, so it forms a layer on top of the bay and freezes quickly. Polar Bear behavior has evolved to take advantage of this early ice formation over millennia. Large numbers of bears migrate to this location over several weeks where they wait patiently for enough solid ice to support their journey onto the bay.

At peak times, the number of bears found around Cape Churchill is truly astounding. This normally reclusive, nomadic animal lives at extremely low densities for ninety percent of the year. The fall congregation along the coast provides world class opportunities to view and photograph the iconic Polar Bear. Once this population disburses onto the ice for the winter, they vanish quickly, and Churchill residents prepare for a long, dark polar winter.

Past and Present

The Churchill River formed a major part of the “voyageur highway” in the 18^th to 20^th century as the Hudson Bay Company developed their fur trading network throughout Western Canada. Over its life, the town of Churchill has been a trading post, a military fort, a USAF base, a shipping port, and Canadian Naval radio base. The town now hosts the Churchill Northern Studies Center for multi-disciplinary arctic research and community focus has shifted to science and tourism.

Mostly notably. Churchill, Manitoba, is now renowned as the "Polar Bear Capital of the World." Churchill's unique geographical location makes it a prime spot for viewing and studying polar bear activity. Each autumn, this remote subarctic town becomes a hub for wildlife enthusiasts and tourists eager to witness the iconic polar bear. During 6-to-8-week period in October and November the town population explodes with visitors from all over the globe. They all come with one common purpose - to view, photograph, film, or study bears.

For The Love of Bears

The simultaneous congregation of Polar Bears and visitors in Churchill creates a unique mix of opportunities and challenges. Balancing tourism with conservation is paramount in Churchill. The town and its residents play a pivotal role in polar bear conservation, education and preserving the delicate balance of human-wildlife coexistence.

The Polar Bear Alert Program, operated by Manitoba's Wildlife, Fisheries, and Enforcement Branch, aims to protect both humans and bears. When bears wander into town, they are safely relocated, often to a holding facility colloquially known as the "Polar Bear Jail." Here, bears are held temporarily before being relocated and released back into the wild.

Indigenous communities, including the Swampy Cree, Sayisi Dene, Métis, and Caribou Inuit, contribute invaluable traditional knowledge to the collective body of knowledge about Polar Bears. Their insights into human-polar bear coexistence, passed down through generations, inform sustainable practices and enrich our understanding of these animals. The Itsanitaq Museum displays artifacts from Indigenous cultures, including tools, carvings, and exhibits on Arctic wildlife.

Organizations like Polar Bears International operate in the region throughout the year studying to bear behavior, their ecology, and their threats. They are committed to the long-term survival of these magnificent animals and the arctic habitat they call home. The Polar Bears International House serves as an educational center, promoting awareness about polar bear conservation and the impacts of climate change. If you are interested in knowing more about this organization, I recommend visiting their website. https://polarbearsinternational.org/

Fond Memories

Churchill, Manitoba, offers a unique convergence of natural wonder, cultural richness, and conservation efforts. For tourists and wildlife enthusiasts, it provides an unparalleled opportunity to witness polar bears in their natural habitat while understanding the broader ecological and cultural contexts. As climate change continues to challenge the Arctic environment, responsible tourism and informed appreciation become ever more crucial.