Churchill Wild Safari
In early Novemeber, I spent a week with Churchill Wild. Each day we would hike on foot in the morning and afternoon along the western shores of the Hudson Bay
Turbo Otter Plane
Wind storms kept us in Churchill an extra day, around sunset the pilot called and gave the heads up to fly to the lodge
The Aussie, Bernie, was the co-pilot on the flight
Our guide Terry met us on the runway next to the lodge
The moment we arrived at Dymond Lake Lodge someone yelled "Bear on the lake!"
Dymond Lake Lodge
Even when biting and clawing one another, polar bears are silent no grunts or anything.
Our guide Josh keeping a bear back from the fence
Looking towards the Hudson Bay
We got a glimpse of an arctic fox. It looked back several times to see if we were chasing him.
Terry was always in the lead with an assortment of weapons.
A pocket full of rocks will keep you safe in polar bear country
The temperature warmed up causing a layer of water to form on the surface of the ice. These bears slid across the lake fighting each other
On the final day we followed a mom and her two cubs. Mom stood up to get a better view of an approaching bear as the cubs started to run away.
It will likely be the final summer together for this family, usually after two full years the cubs will be on their own.
Family portrait
Bear Jail
The people in the town of Churchill leave their cars and homes unlocked in case of emergency. Bears that cause trouble in town get thrown into jail. Repeat offenders (those that do specific acts such as breaking into sheds) can spend the entire summer here.
Traps are lined with seal oil to lure the polar bears