Polar Bear has fun in the snow. The falling snow was creating a superb winter scene as we drove around the outskirts of Churchill looking for Polar Bears. This beautiful female was sitting on a small ridge with snow blowing around her. She then began to role around in the snow and willow trees much to our amazement. After a few minutes she headed off and we lost sight of her. A very special and very enjoyable encounter.
Polar Bears congregate on the tundra close to Hudson’s Bay, Churchill, because this is the place they know where the bay will freeze over first and they will be able to hunt seals and have their first substantial meal in months. The bay freezes first at this location because the fresh water from the Churchill river enters the bay, reduces its salinity and hence it freezes over earlier than the rest of the bay. It’s a waiting game. It was cold when we were there but not cold enough to freeze the sea. Within a week or so of this being filmed, the temperatures plummeted and the bay began to freeze over. The Polar Bears will soon have gone from around Churchill in search of seals which will haul out on the new ice.
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