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A visit to far-north Canada to check out polar bears in the wild has long been on Mike's bucket list, and this November was the time! Polar Bears are the largest bears in the world (up to 12 feet high, and over 2000 pounds), and the top predator in Artic regions. They can been seen in various places, but Churchill (almost at the Arctic Circle) is a very popular spot for Polar Bear tourists.
Each summer, Churchill finds hundreds of bears coming ashore as the sea ice melts. There's little to see then, as the bears head for a spot to sleep during the summer months. Then in October or November, as Hudson Bay begins to freeze again, the bears come out and congregate along the shore, ready to head out as soon as the ice can support their weight and they can resume hunting for seals, their main diet. Pregnant females are the exception, as they spend the winter ashore in a den, awaiting the birth of their cubs in early spring. (Females usually have a cub or two every three years.)
Sandy had no interest in going (too cold, too rustic) and besides, she had made friends with a polar bear several years ago. Mike's friend Marv DID go however, and met Mike in Winnipeg, the capitol of Manitoba Province, where they formed up with their group. After collecting all their (really) cold weather gear from the rental shop and the traditional "meet and greet," they were prepared for their charter flight early the next morning up to Churchill, right on the shore of Hudson Bay, not far below the Arctic Circle. (A surprise; about half their tour group were from Australia.)
The itinerary featured two all-day expeditions out into the Wildlife Management Area in "Tundra Buggys," which are high enough to avoid the reach of inquisitive bears, and ride on huge tires to avoid damaging the tundra. (This reminded Mike somewhat of going out on game drives when he and Sandy did a photo safari in Africa.) In between, we got to do the Ididamile dog sled run (you've heard of the Ididarod Race?), and to learn more about the history and natives of the area, Polar Bear conservation, etc.
Here's some highlight pictures of their visit to Churchill.
After all these days of adventure, the group flew back to Winnepeg to turn in their gear, and enjoy a last meal in Canada. The next morning it was homeward bound!