The entire trip

One is always asked how close do you get to the animals. Here is a bear leaning on our tire. This bear was around 8' long.

Before leaving for Churchill, I saw this bear on the streets of Winnipeg. It got me ready for the trip.






Churchill is on the Hudson Bay at approximately 58 degrees north. It has the largest congregation of Polar Bears in the world. Why? The Hudson Bay is loaded with seals, their favorite food. And Hudson Bay freezes in a counter clock-wise mode, hence Churchill is the first part of the Bay to freeze up to the shoreline. The Polar Bear season in Churchill ends when the ice is thick enough for the bears to go hunting. The bears do not return to land until the ice breaks up in the spring.

In Churchill the baby bears only stay with the mother for two years. Everywhere else the pups stay for three years. I think this is evidence that Churchill is the best area for polar bears.

Below is my "home" on the Tundra, around 10 miles east of Churchill. Note the two bears near the "train".




At 7 AM breakfast, the sky is still dark. Got a good shot of the pre-dawn sky.






Now for the bears. No comments are needed.

See the scar on the next bear.

Below are a couple pictures of Artic Foxes. Yes they are really that hard to see. Unlike the polar bears they have very white fur. Guess if you only weigh 10 lbs. you better blend in.

Not all work, I got to take a dog-sled ride on the last day. No, the musher did not let me drive, but I got to touch his gun. See the pine trees. We are in the Boreal forest, which is west and south of the tundra.

The trip was a great adventure, but I think an African Safari is more fun. In Africa you see a lot more variety.

All pictures are copywrited by Mel Katz Images. You may use these low resolution images as screen savers. High resolution prints are available for sale. Contact me at goodfence@ameritech.net.