Polar Bears 27 October 2010

Churchill, Manitoba, Canada was Polar Bears day for our trip.  The weather was overcast with a strong cold wind and occassional light rain.  It must have been a good day for bears as we saw 22 different bears, the guides record for this season.  We were picked up in Churchill at 7.45am and transported by an old bus to The Great White Bear tour company depot on the open tundra type terraine approximately 20 minutes from the town.  There we transferred to a tundra buggy which is a heavy duty 4 or 6 multi wheel drive specialised bus body vehicle on huge balloon tyres.  At the rear was a viewing platform and to embark, the vehicle was backed up to a loading bank and passengers walked on the level through the viewing platform into the heated area fitted out with bus seats. A very suitable machine for the task. It was not long before the first bears were sighted as follows.

Distant mother and twin cubs sleeping in the shelter of White Spruce.

It was not long before they senced concern and aroused but not from our presence.

Danger from a large male bear was lurking nearby.

They moved off then a while later were seen again resting by another lagoon,  but still looking a bit anxious.

So they should be anxious for this fellow is seen approaching their position testing out the strength of the ice for a short cut.

The ice must have been a bit thin and he decides on the long way around through some willow scrub.

A quick instruction to the cubs and the mother and cubs were off.

Showing only bare paws to the large male.

A quick look around where the mother and cubs had been the bear prepares to leave the scene.

Then with a large yawn he marches off in the direction he had come from.

Mother and cubs then stop for a spell and consider their next move all the time keeping a sharp look out for they had been disturbed by two different male bears in the last hour.

Deciding it was safe again they settle for another rest.  Note this is a time when there is very little food about and they are gathering for the Hudson bay to freeze over so they can go out on the ice and hunt the Ringed Seal to restore body weight.

There was not much other wildlife about, with most departing for better wintering grounds.  This Snow Ptarmigan was one of a small flock seen that follow the edge of the snow.