In early November, on the southern shores of the Hudson Bay, the solitary outpost of Churchill hosted hundreds of international visitors, including myself, wanting to see a few of the approxamately 1000 wild polar bears of the western Hudson Bay population.

In October, the bears, waiting for the ice to form on the bay congregated near Gordon Point. While the bears anticipated hunting on the ice for seals, we watched in awe of the concentration of bears interacting before they disappeared onto the ice. It was an also an amazing experience to stand in arctic storms, watch the aurora borealis, arctic foxes, red foxes, ptarmigan and so much more!

By December, Churchill was quiet as all the tourists and bears had left.

Unfortunately, the time bears have on the ice grows shorter each year, making it more difficult ot build up their fat reserves. Canadian Wildlife Service studies have shown a 20% decline in the western Hudson Bay population as well as a decline in the bears overall body condition. Concerns about about climate change, pollution, and animal management point to an uncertain future for the polar bear. Learn how to help at www.polarbearsinternational.org.