A pair of large male polar bears spend some time honing their fighting skills and having fun next to pond in Churchill, Manitoba.
Its so great to be back in Churchill, Manitoba starting another season of polar bear trips! The first trip was great, as I guided a group from Houston Zoo, organized by Peter RIger, The zoo’s Director of Conservation & Science. The early snow that had fallen in the region had melted before our arrival, so we were treated to polar bears and other arctic wildlife, including snowy owls, red foxes, arctic foxes, and ptarmigan in beautiful fall colors of the tundra. The ice has not formed, so the bears are not distracted yet by the prospects of seal hunting in Hudson Bay, so we were able to watch them spar, or play fight. This behavior is my favorite of the bears, and it is critical for their personal success during the violent mating season battles of the late winter on the ice. Here are a few images from the trip, although they aren’t really sharp because I forgot to put my camera in ai servo, or continuous focus mode! Learn from my lessons, because it seems that I cant as this isn’t the first time I have done this. I just get too excited when the bears are around.
Sparring, or play fighting, helps the male bears hone their fighting skills which they need during the competitive mating season in the late winter.
I love the lake as a backdrop. We had to spend some time waiting for these guys to finish napping, but it was worth it when they woke up. For me it doesn’t get much better!
Polar bear “Pow-Wow.” Polar bears are independent, solitary animals in many ways, but while they wait for the ice to form on Hudson Bay they can be quite social.
10 feet tall, at least.
Lesser Canada geese and blue and white phase snow geese congregate in the pond near the grain elevator in Churchill.
Traveler Alicia Taylor plays with a sled dog in the boreal forest south of Churchill.
Carrie Lee and Nina near a polar bear live-trap.
Curious polar bear standing at the front of a tunrda Rover.
Lack of snow doesn’t stop these dogs from pulling the carts with tundra wheels.
6 Comments
I consider myself extremely priviledged to be one of the people on this tour. Brad is a superb guide. Not only does he know all about bears, their habitat and mannerisms; but he also knows all about wildlife on the tundra. He also has an uncanny way of making everyone feel important. Several times during the trip, I felt like I was the only one present (especially when I stepped out on the back deck of the tundra buggy in the blustering winter day)! But it was oh so worth it. When I attend nature trips such as this one, it restores my soul !
Great job, Brad. Please also congratulate all the other guides and people we were in contact with for making this trip for me a trip of a liftetime !
A trip is only as good as the people who make up the group- and you guys were so much fun, you guys deserved a great trip! Thanks Margaret!
Wow! I leave in 23 days for the tundra lodge trip – love seeing these pictures and hope the bears are still there when I get there!
youll have a blast- maybe on my trip, ill be on the lodge at the end.
I am on the 18-24-Nov photography trip on the Tundra lodge. So excited! Trying to figure out what camera equipment to bring with me!
Last week today our group was on the tundra seeing our first POLAR BEARS! WOW!! What a fantastic trip that was. Brad thank you so much for a trip of a lifetime. The words that come to mind are AWESOME, AMAZING, FANTASTIC, OVER THE FLIPPIN TOP! Thanks again. I can’t wait to hang out with you in Alaska next year watching Grizzlies. Take care and THANK YOU for making a dream come true.