Originally presented April 12, 2021
If you’re a lover of wildlife, you may have a knee-jerk aversion to hunting. But hunting has actually proven to be an important tool for responsible wildlife management, which is integral to the conservation of North America’s megafauna. Expedition Leader Drew McCarthy, who has spent 13 years guiding natural history tours in Denali National Park, explains how and why. In today’s webinar, Drew presents a compelling overview of how hunting and conservation are linked in the preservation and management of Dall sheep in Alaska and Canada’s Yukon Territory, particularly with regard to the history and establishment of Denali National Park. In this webinar, you’ll also gain an understanding of the natural history and evolution of Dall sheep and their relationship to other mountain sheep around the world.

Originally presented April 9, 2021
Expedition Leader Jeremy Covert has a special place in his heart for Churchill, Manitoba and its most famous residents. Of course, we’re talking about the Arctic’s most celebrated carnivore and charismatic marine mammal, the shaggy white beast that gives Churchill its nickname: Polar Bear Capital of the World. Learn all about polar bears in today’s webinar as Jeremy explains how and why they are so different from brown and black bears, what their behaviors and personality traits are like, and why they thrive in what appears to be a harsh and barren landscape. He’ll talk about the obvious and subtle threats polar bears face, as well as the hardy people who live among them—the residents of the small town of Churchill, who find both challenge and reward being neighbors with polar bears.

Originally presented April 8, 2021
Still deserving of its nickname as the Last Frontier, Alaska boasts epic wilderness and wildlife wonders. For centuries, Alaska has captured the imaginations of travelers and explorers. And while today’s Alaska adventurer can be assured of every creature comfort, its wild allure remains untamed. Within Alaska’s bounds are North America’s highest mountain range, 3 million lakes, 100,000 glaciers and 34,000 miles of shoreline. Alaska’s tundra, forests and seas are home to a magnificent array of wild animals thriving in vast tracts of uninhabited terrain. You’ve seen Alaska in countless nature documentaries, you’ve heard about it in our webinars...is it time to consider an Alaska adventure in person? As she shares a local’s view on her home state, Annie also offers an overview of Nat Hab’s Ultimate Alaska Wildlife Safari, Wild Alaska Grizzly Encounter and Alaska Explorer expedition to the Kenai and Prince William Sound.

Originally presented April 1, 2021
You may have heard that Churchill, Manitoba is the Polar Bear Capital of the World. But why is that the case? Polar bears roam around the polar regions of the Earth, so how come Churchill is arguably the best place to see them, and not, say, Greenland or Svalbard? Join Annie Van Dinther to find out. Annie makes her home in Alaska, which is also home to polar bears, but when it comes to polar bear viewing, she advises travelers to choose Churchill. Annie has guided numerous polar bears expeditions through the Churchill Wildlife Management Area since 1999, earning the casual title “local-in-law” from community residents. In today’s webinar, she explains the geographic factors that come together on the western shore of Hudson Bay to create prime viewing conditions, if your goal is to lay eyes on the King of the Arctic in its native habitat. Annie is an expert on the behavior of Arctic marine mammals, including the polar bear, and you’ll come away with in-depth insight into the migratory patterns of this top predator that make it Churchill’s “main attraction.”

Originally presented March 23, 2021
You’re out on the frozen tundra, scanning the horizon for the Arctic’s largest carnivore, when you spy a massive white bear lumbering toward your Polar Rover, just yards away. You catch your breath as it halts, sniffing the air, and looks up at you. Observing polar bears in their natural habitat is a thrilling spectacle for wildlife lovers. Their fascinating biology, migration, and increasing rarity on our planet make this rare opportunity a coveted one. And the very act of traveling to see polar bears in the Arctic contributes significantly to saving them, since it demonstrates the economic value of conservation. What was once an expedition only possible for intrepid Arctic explorers with extended time to sail, trek, and even overwinter in the northernmost parts of our planet is now available for anyone with a sense of wonder and intrigue about Arctic wildlife—and polar bears are surely the most spectacular of denizens.

Originally presented March 17, 2021
The subarctic hamlet of Churchill, Manitoba—population less than 1,000—on Hudson Bay is known as the Polar Bear Capital of the World. Many residents gain most of their income during the fall polar bear tour season, supplemented with winter northern lights visitors and summer beluga whale watching. But far fewer tourists came this past year, as global travel shut down and Churchill hunkered down to ride out the virus. What has the situation been like for locals, who have hung on through a long ordeal and are devising new ways to welcome visitors while keeping them and the community safe? Get a first-person account from two Nat Hab Expedition Leaders—Eleanor Edye and Judy Wilson—who are also involved with the Churchill Northern Studies Center, Edye as executive director and Wilson as a board member. Even though Churchill saw fewer visitors in 2020, it was still a busy year for small-scale ecotourism and wildlife researchers in the Canadian North. Our guides will fill you in on what the past summer and fall held, highlighting current research projects, and how tour operators are adapting to provide a safe and still magical nature travel experience.

Originally presented March 12, 2021
Every year, some 3,000 beluga whales congregate in the mouth of the Churchill River at the edge of Hudson Bay. Guests on Nat Hab’s summer adventures in Churchill, Manitoba have the thrill of meeting them at arm’s length from motorized rafts and kayaks. These small white whales that live only in Arctic and sub-Arctic waters are docile and curious, often following alongside us as we ply the river. Get to know belugas in depth with Expedition Leader Eddy Savage, who introduces us to this species that thrives in the cold northern waters of North America, Greenland and Russia. The beluga, which is related to the narwhal, has adapted ingeniously to life in the Arctic, with anatomical and physiological characteristics that distinguish it from other cetaceans. Belugas are known for being vocal “singers,” their high-pitched calls earning them the nickname “canaries of the sea.” Eddy tells us about the fascinating features that make belugas unique, from the way they hear and communicate, to their diet and more. Belugas face a number of threats to their welfare, and Eddy fills us in on conservation priorities to ensure their future.

Originally presented March 10, 2021
Bear expert Brad Josephs has guided polar bear expeditions for Nat Hab in Churchill, Manitoba for 13 seasons, and you'll find no more enthusiastic ambassador for the species or this destination, renowned for offering the best polar bear viewing on the planet. Each fall, several hundred polar bears make their way to the Churchill area, gathering along the edge of Hudson Bay where the ice tends to freeze first, signaling the start of their winter seal-hunting season. That's when we take guests onto the open tundra in big Polar Rovers, offering totally safe and sometimes very close encounters! But polar bears aren't all Churchill has to offer. This small frontier town, inaccessible by road, is rich in Indigenous and Canadian pioneer history. Guests on Nat Hab's polar bear adventures enjoy meeting local people, including a dog musher who takes us sledding through the boreal forest with his team.

Originally presented March 2, 2021
When you combine the words “Arctic” and “winter,” most people conjure up images of a vast, blank white wilderness. While “wilderness” is spot-on to describe much of the Arctic at ay time, the planet’s upper latitudes are anything but “blank” during this harshest season of the year. Both day and night in the Arctic are filled with wonder, as the aurora borealis puts on a dance show on cloudless nights, and clear days can reveal equally fascinating atmospheric phenomena, like sun dogs—two luminous “mock suns” on either side of the real thing. The Arctic environment doesn’t take a pause this time of year! Creatures (including humans) that dwell in the Arctic are especially adapted to the challenges of winter life in these daunting climes, and the science and spectacle of Arctic adaptations are fascinating. Join Court Whelan for a virtual journey through the Arctic in winter, as he presents the science and the splendor of this special time of year in the frozen North.

Originally presented February 10, 2021
In late summer 2020, Nat Hab Expedition Leader Eddy Savage was part of a wilderness journey that looked decidedly different from the typical trips he guides. This time, as Eddy followed the crenellated coast of central British Columbia, he wasn’t searching for humpback whales or spirit bears—he was looking for garbage. Hear about the 40 days Eddy spent at sea collecting debris, joining a group of small marine-based Canadian tour operators to undertake a massive cleanup on some of the most remote stretches of Canada’s Pacific coast. Despite the pristine nature of BC’s Great Bear Rainforest and the adjacent areas that were the focus of the cleanup, these wild places are by no means protected from ocean garbage, including a plague of plastic and other drifting debris. You’ll be astonished to hear how much refuse the teams collected—and inspired to learn more and do more to solve this global problem.

Originally presented January 21, 2021
In this installment of our “Let’s Go!” destination series, Annie Van Dinther and her guest Mike Hillman share an in-depth look at the marine wonderland that is Alaska’s Prince William Sound. Fed by dozens of glaciers and peppered with islands, this pristine body of water is a focal point on Nat Hab’s new Alaska Explorer trip. Debuting in summer 2021, it includes three nights aboard a classic yacht in these pristine waters. Annie and Mike reveal a bountiful ecosystem that sustains more than 220 species of birds, 30 species of land mammals, and at least a dozen marine mammal species, including a healthy whale population. Meet orcas, humpbacks, Dall porpoise and more as our guides introduce the resident and migrating cetaceans that live in these icy waters. Among other wildlife that flourishes here are sea otters, seals, sea lions, black bears, bald eagles, puffins, and seabird colonies numbering in the tens of thousands.

Originally presented January 7, 2021
Dive into this new trip through the eyes of Annie Van Dinther and Mike Hillman. This eight-day itinerary fits a lot into a relatively quick trip. Unlike our other Alaska adventures, this trip is not focused on bears. Several days on a 75-foot luxury wooden yacht allows us to search for whales and bald eagles as we navigate the narrow channels, coves and fjords in Prince William Sound. We will ride a spur of the historic Alaska Railroad into the Chugach Range for views of the Spencer Glacier, enjoy a mellow float trip on the Placer River and even survey the wilds of the Kenai Peninsula from the air on a private flightseeing excursion. We are excited about this new adventure and we hope you will be too!

Originally presented January 5, 2021
Due to the pandemic and the closure of the border between the United States and Canada, we had to cancel our polar bear season this year for the first time in more than three decades. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t experience our most popular destination virtually through this engaging webinar with Expedition Leader and staff photographer Court Whelan! Stunning imagery will capture your imagination and whet your appetite to visit these white Kings of the Arctic, and Court’s stories and vast knowledge will help you know what to expect and how to prepare for the journey.

Originally presented December 22, 2020
The mighty moose—Alces alces—is the largest member of the deer family and a North American wildlife icon. To encounter one of these imposing creatures — standing 6 feet or more at the shoulder and weighing up to 1,800 pounds — is a thrill for any wildlife aficionado. Join wildlife biologist Aaron Bott for a close look at moose in the Northern Rockies, with a special focus on conservation challenges. After expanding for most of the 20th century, the North American moose population has been on the decline for the past few decades. Aaron takes a closer look at population trends, examining multiple ecological challenges and what the future for the moose might look like.

Originally presented December 28, 2020
Join Nat Hab Expedition Leaders Brad Josephs and Corbin Hawkins as they share memorable events and delightful stories – including some of their favorite individual animals—from their years of guiding nature expeditions. Today’s installment focuses on Churchill, Manitoba, a three-season destination for Nat Hab, with the polar bears of autumn, the northern lights of winter, and the beluga whales and the tundra wildlife of an Arctic summer. While of course Churchill is most famous for its charismatic polar bears—and our guides will tell you how they are able to identify particular individuals—you’ll also hear the story of one special sled dog that warms our hearts.

Originally presented December 10, 2020
We’re approaching the shortest day of the year with the winter solstice on December 21. And if you live near or above the Arctic Circle, even your days are dark, or at least brief, as the sun makes a feeble appearance above the horizon. Could you spend a winter here? Would the nighttime stars and dancing aurora be enough to stave off seasonal depression? What about storing enough food to subsist on through the long winter months? Especially if you live in the bush and can’t count on a supermarket? Could you live off the land? How do you prepare? And how do you get consumer goods when there are no malls down the road? Annie Van Dinther has lived in Homer, Alaska for more than two decades, and she knows how to weather a northern winter. While Homer is not actually in the Arctic, living here poses the same sorts of challenges that Arctic dwellers face whether they reside along Canada’s Hudson Bay or at the top of Scandinavia or in far-flung Siberia. Join Annie for a fascinating look at what it takes to embrace an Arctic way of life.

Originally presented December 9, 2020
Canadian naturalist Eddy Savage takes us to the Coast Range of British Columbia to follow one bear’s life from 6-month-old cub to 7-year-old adult. When Eddy started guiding in the Great Bear Rainforest, among the first bears he saw were a mother and two “cubs of the year,” born that previous spring. He didn't know it then, but Eddy would see the same bears dozens of times each season over the next seven years. He got to know their patterns and personalities intimately as he observed countless social interactions with other bears, watching the cubs playing, courting and becoming mature adults. In this webinar, Eddy covers the life of one female grizzly in detail, sharing photos and stories of Amber, who today is almost 8 years old.

Originally presented December 3, 2020
There are currently an estimated 22,000-30,000 polar bears on the planet, living in 19 distinct sub-populations found through the circumpolar North. The Arctic regions of five nations comprise the polar bears’ home: they are found in the U.S., Canada, Norway, Greenland (Denmark) and Russia. Annie Van Dinther, Drew Hamilton and Mike Hillman introduce these populations, weaving together science and culture in a fascinating presentation on largest and most charismatic carnivores in the North. They takes us through biology basics—such as where bears live, what they need to survive, what their relatives numbers are from one part of the Arctic to another—and they also present a human perspective on polar bears, investigating how the bears are understood in cross-cultural myth, legend and language.

Originally presented November 18, 2020
At Nat Hab, fall is typically defined by “polar bear season,” when we take several hundred guests to view the King of the Arctic on the wild tundra in Churchill, Manitoba. This has certainly been true for Annie Van Dinther, who has guided dozens of polar bear expeditions along Canada’s Hudson Bay. This year, however, Annie says she “feels like a migratory species that forgot to migrate.” Join Annie for a virtual journey into the polar bear’s world as she presents a year in the life of the Arctic’s most charismatic carnivore. Learn why ice is imperative for hunting, how bears breed and give birth, what life on land looks like in a rapidly warming Arctic, and more.

Originally presented November 12, 2020
In the remote valleys of the Coast Range on Canada’s far western edge, the planet's oldest and tallest conifers rise along salmon-studded rivers that rush to the Pacific. Thousand-year-old cedars and Sitka spruce soaring 300 feet into the rain clouds provide shelter for the pale spirit bear of Native legend, just a few hundred of which live in this isolated wilderness. Here, too, are grizzlies and wolves. Offshore, humpback whales and porpoises ply the jade-green fjords. Explore this awe-inspiring place with BC-born and based Eddy Savage, who reveals its intricate ecosystem and discusses recent conservation movements aimed at ensuring the future of this magnificent and at-risk wild realm.

Originally presented November 2, 2020
Join Canadian Expedition Leader Eddy Savage, an expert on all things Arctic, for a fascinating presentation on one of nature’s most mystical wonders: the northern lights. Also called the aurora borealis, these dancing curtains of light in the far-north night sky have intrigued humankind for millennia. Eddy presents the science behind the lights in layman’s terms, along with an overview of the myths and legends surrounding this most wondrous of natural phenomena. You’ll also learn why Churchill, Manitoba—where Nat Hab runs winter northern lights trips— is one of the best places on Earth to view it.

Originally presented September 24, 2020
From the Inside Passage to Resurrection Bay, Prince William Sound and beyond, Alaska's cold waters sustain abundant marine mammals, including eight different whale species. Expedition Leader Annie Van Dinther lives in Homer, Alaska, which lies on Kachemak Bay. The bay, which is Annie's "backyard," is often frequented by whales, and they have long been a focus of her interest and expertise as a naturalist Expedition Leader. You'll come away from this webinar fascinated and awestruck by the role whales play in Alaska's wild environment.

Originally presented September 23, 2020
Enormous and diverse, Alaska’s landscapes and seascapes comprise some of the planet’s last remaining intact natural areas. This webinar features two WWF Alaska experts: From Homer, Alaska, Dave Aplin – Director of Education and Outreach for WWF’s Arctic Field Program — and his colleague Mike Crispino, Senior Director, Oceans, from Washington, DC. The two will take us on a virtual adventure from the North Slope to Bristol Bay, investigating the wildlife and communities found along the way. Through incredible imagery, this webinar highlights issues that connect Alaska’s nature and people, including an update on the fight to stop the Pebble Mine.

Originally presented September 18, 2020
Greenland is ground zero for global climate change. Greenland's rapidly melting glaciers create stunning icescapes that provide riveting subjects for photographers including Ralph Lee Hopkins, our presenter for this webinar. Ralph is the founder and director of the expedition photography program for the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic alliance. We’ll join Ralph on a visual journey to Sermilik Fjord, carved into the east side of the world’s largest island.

Originally presented September 17, 2020
In this webinar series, Annie Van Dinther interviews Expedition Leaders from around the world to discover the heart of the places they love and call home. Our quest is to take you on a journey with our guides, via stories and photographs, that leaves you feeling like you’ve been there. This time, though, we're turning the tables, as Corbin Hawkins interviews Annie, our Guide Development Director, about her passion for her home state of Alaska. Hear from Annie about the rhythms of daily life and the seasons as she shares her heart for Alaska.

Originally presented August 27, 2020
Join Shawn Eggleston on a trip to southwest Alaska’s remote Katmai Peninsula, home of the highest concentration of brown bears in the world. But this region, so famous for its spectacular, close-up bear viewing, has more to offer, too!  

Originally presented August 20, 2020
In this webinar series, Annie Van Dinther interviews Expedition Leaders from around the world to discover the heart of the places they love and call home. Her quest is to take you on a journey with our guides, via stories and photographs, that leaves you feeling like you’ve been there. In this episode, join Expedition Leader Corbin Hawkins who shares how the small subarctic community of Churchill, Manitoba, has become central to his life. Churchill residents, who live in a remote village surrounded by more polar bears than people, facing winter temperatures of 50 below zero and no road connection to the outside world, are not your average folks. Corbin introduces us to several of these intrepid Churchill locals and to the wild tundra landscape on Hudson Bay that they call home.

Originally presented August 7, 2020
A ghost lives in the coastal rainforest of central and northern British Columbia. A rare and elusive white bear called the “spirit” or “Kermode” bear stalks this shadowy realm, expressing a recessive gene that appears in 10 – 20% of the black bear population in this small area. Bear fanatic and Expedition Leader Eddy Savage will introduce us to these bears with an overview of their biology, cultural importance, the potential advantages to this color mutation and the conservation efforts that are necessary for their survival.

Originally presented July 29, 2020
Fights to preserve wild places are usually marathons, not sprints, and we’ve just entered a new phase in the fight against the proposed Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay, Alaska. Watch this short film to hear the latest updates from Nat Hab Expedition Leader and President of Friends of McNeill River, Drew Hamilton, along with his insights into how the Pebble Mine could have serious consequences for the future of bears and salmon in Alaska.

Originally presented July 8, 2020
Bear naturalist Brad Josephs explains the importance of the marine environment to the survival of Alaska’s coastal brown bears and how this diverse food source has enabled them to become some of the largest brown bears in the world.

Originally presented July 1, 2020
Brad Josephs takes us into one of the few remaining places on Earth where these two apex predators—the brown bear and the gray wolf— coexist.

Originally presented June 18, 2020
Yellowstone and Alaska are two of the most dramatic wilderness realms in North America. Both feature vast landscapes with mostly intact ecosystems, great populations of large mammals, and fascinating human characters woven into their histories. As an Alaskan, Expedition Leader Annie Van Dinther expected to be disappointed by Yellowstone when she visited—yet its wide-open spaces and abundant wildlife made her feel like she was stepping back in time into a primeval wilderness. During this webinar, Annie is joined by Yellowstone Expedition Leader Drew Hamilton to discuss the importance of large protected landscapes for wildlife.

Originally presented June 11, 2020
The world of the polar bear is changing, and fast. Crumbling glaciers, thawing permafrost and vanishing sea ice are clear signs of the intense warming of Arctic ecosystems that has consequences for not just for microorganisms, plants, animals and peoples that live in the Far North, but also for the climate at the middle latitudes. Join Annie Van Dinther and Rinie Van Meurs as they discuss Rinie’s book, The Future Polar Bear, examining the life of this top predator and whether it will be able to adapt to a rapidly changing climate.

Originally presented June 9, 2020
Few destinations offer as many thrills for the nature traveler—and as many creative challenges for photographers—as Churchill, Manitoba. White-on-white images? Check. Night photography? Check. Capturing wildlife against vast, featureless terrain? Check. Adjusting your settings while your fingers freeze to your camera? Check. Court Whelan has guided many photography adventures in the Canadian North, and he’ll share the tips and tricks he’s learned to capture memorable images in the most challenging conditions.

Originally presented May 27, 2020
Guiding bear-viewing expeditions for Nat Hab means being on the ground, surrounded by bears, unarmed, and sometimes within very close of these giant carnivores. Brad Josephs was one of the first guides to pioneer bear viewing on Alaska’s Katmai coast, and he has since led dozens of groups to the region for more than 20 years.

Originally presented May 22, 2020
We often think of the Bering Strait as a west to east passageway via which early humans crossed from Asia to North America. Join Elisabeth Kruger, WWF’s Arctic and Bering Sea Program Officer, as she invites us to learn about her work on human-polar bear interactions in Arctic communities and the spring migration of marine mammals through the Bering Strait. Come ready to be challenged, as she just might test whether you can identify the sources of underwater calls captured with a hydrophone from the edge of the sea ice!

Originally presented May 20, 2020
What does it take for a polar bear to survive in the extreme environment along northern Canada’s Hudson Bay? Expedition Leader Brad Josephs, who has guided hundreds of guests on polar bear encounters, will take us through a year in the life of a Hudson Bay bear. From hunting on the sea ice through the dark, frigid winters, to surviving for months without food in the (relative) heat of the summer, survival is no easy task for the King of the Arctic.

Originally presented May 14, 2020
Wilderness comes in many forms in Alaska, from rugged coastlines with crashing surf, to the highest snow-covered peaks in North America, to expansive views across reddened, tundra-filled valleys that you could fit an entire state into. In this webinar, Expedition Leaders Annie Van Dinther, Mike Hillman and Rachel Lorde-Sullivan will take an ecosystem approach to showing the wonders and diversity of America’s largest state, drawing from their many years of guiding people through life-changing experiences with Alaska’s bears, birds and backcountry.

Originally presented May 13, 2020
You’ve asked for it, and we are bringing it to you! We’ve received so many requests for more bear webinars that we have invited back one of our experts, Expedition Leader Brad Josephs, to take us on a deep dive into the biology and behaviors of bears around the world. Brad will share his vast knowledge about these fascinating animals that strike such a deep chord for many of us.

Originally presented May 7, 2020
For a tiny little frontier town inaccessible by road on the edge of Canada’s Hudson Bay, Churchill sure has a lot to offer nature lovers through the year. Join Expedition Leaders Annie Van Dinther, Moira Le Patourel, Eleanor Edye and Hollie Galloway for a virtual journey over the tundra, into the taiga, and to the mouth of the Churchill River as we discover Churchill in the fall, winter and summer.

Originally presented April 21, 2020
Join us for the digital world premiere of Pebble Redux, hosted by Natural Habitat Adventures. This new short film is a riveting window into one of the most critical conservation battles on the planet: how the proposed Pebble Mine would destroy the best brown bear habitat in the world, and how Alaskans are fighting to stop it.

Originally presented April 16, 2020
In the third and final installment of this series on gray whales, Annie and Sofia follow the whales’ spring journey north to Alaska, where they spend the summer feeding in the Bering Sea. Learn about the whales’ feeding ecology and hear the results of current research that offers insight into the behavior and well-being of different gray whale populations.

Originally presented April 15, 2020
These Expedition Leaders are passionate about bears—and each will make the case for why the bear species they represent should win our Best Bear in the World contest! The four contenders are the polar bear, brown bear, panda bear and sun bear. By the way, these are four of eight bear species worldwide.

Originally presented March 27, 2020
Whether it’s humpbacks bubble-net feeding in Alaska or bottlenose dolphins by the dozens cavorting in Baja, these marine mammals are some of the most social—creatures on Earth. Join Lindsey Nielsen and Rachel Sullivan-Lord for a fascinating dive into their relational world.

Originally presented March 26, 2020
Nat Hab Founder & President Ben Bressler welcomes you to our new webinar series, which kicks off with a journey into the captivating world of bears with Expedition Leader Brad Josephs.