Churchill, Manitoba lies about 1300 miles north northwest of Toronto, Canada on the western side of Hudson’s Bay.  By far, Churchill is best know for its Fall polar bear migration.

Each year some 1000 to 1500 polar bears congregate in and around Churchill waiting for the ice to form on Hudson’s Bay.  When it finally forms, the bears go onto the ice where they winter, mate and feed until the ice thaws.  Winter is the most active season for these bears which do not hibernate but do live in dens in the late Spring, Summer and early Fall.

Polar bears are solitary animals that can weigh up to 1200 lbs and stand 10 feet tall on their hind legs.  In the wild, they live 15 to 18 years and are endangered.  Polar bears are at the top of the food chain and fear nothing.  When the bears are congregating, it is extremely dangerous. Walking around Churchill, especially at night, has its perils.

We photographed in a fifty square mile area of Tundra just outside of Churchill that is protected for the bears by the Canadian government.  We were in “Tundra Buggies” that are licensed to travel on the land.  These buggies stand high enough for the bears to visit but not high enough for them to get in.

Sadly, the polar bear habitat is being affected by climate change, and Polar Bears International has predicted that by 2050, no longer will there be polar bears going through Churchill.