A different year…
The cold snap didn’t arrive until after the majority of the season was over this year, meaning little to no snow, no ice on the bay and a hard slog for getting those great shots. Not that we didn’t get them.
Does this mean the season should be extended? Probably not.. although it’s hard to say. This seemed to be quite abnormal and it’s doubtful it will follow the same pattern next year, however the traditional “end of Bear Season” in Churchill is never really a sure thing as Bears don’t check their calendars often and don’t know when to leave on time.
Lots of Mothers and Cubs this year. One collared mother who lazed around on the rocks by the bay for days on end (when she wasn’t being moved around by too many over keen people trying to get too close). One orphaned cub who ended up being captured and moved down to the Winnipeg Zoo, something that is quite the hot topic among Churchillians.
There was even a Beluga Whale spotted in the area in November, something that I don’t recall happening since I’ve been in Churchill. Likely sick, or old and didn’t make the run with the rest, but it still goes to show how the warm weather effects more than just the Bears.
The summer of 2016 offered amazing opportunities, not just for the Beluga Whales migrating through, but also for Polar Bears. This year was exceptional, with displays of sparring in the bay, swimming with whales, hunting geese and much more. If this summer is anything to go by for the future, it may end up being more exciting than our current Polar Bear season.
Keep that in mind when looking at booking to go to Churchill..
During the warm fall, on a day where no one was finding Bears anywhere, we spent close to 7 hours at this one spot. It’s hard to tell, but in the distance on the rocks is a sleeping bear, perfectly positioned in the morning sun for some great photos. Almost six hours later he finally got up and with the sun behind him, these guys got some incredible shots of him moving over the rocks and across the land, backlit and beautiful.
If you’re looking at coming up, don’t forget to book yourself a guide. You can do a lot yourself, but the knowledge and safety of having a guide with you can’t be beat. With your eye up to the viewfinder, you may see what you’re looking at, but you’re blind to the bear behind you!
Hope to see you up there next year!
– The Nanuk Operations Team