Let’s Go: Discover Churchill, Polar Bear Capital of the World

Veteran Churchill Expedition Leader Annie Van Dinther is back with an in-depth look at what makes Churchill such a polar bear magnet. You’ve often heard that Churchill is the best place on Earth to see polar bears. But why? What is it about the Western Hudson Bay bears that makes them different from the other 18 polar bear populations on the planet, and why have they been adept at adapting to conditions other polar bears are only just now starting to face? We’ll look at diversity among subpopulations of bears, and the role that seasonal patterns and ice-free waters play in prompting polar bears to adapt to a rapidly changing North. You’ll come away understanding what makes Churchill so unique when it comes to polar bear behavior, and how the bears’ astounding seasonal routine brings them to the “waiting room” each fall to prepare for seal-hunting season…and we are there to watch!


Originally presented August 19, 2021

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