Flying Bears, Swimming Bears & Night on the Tundra

Yesterday was our day to explore Churchill, learn the history of the area and the Hudson Bay Company as well as explore the tundra at night. However, our exploration of Churchill was delayed by a bad bear! Bears are not allowed in the city because they can cause such harm to people. Therefore, the bear patrol exists to turn away bears and head them back to the bay. If they will not heed the warnings, a bear will be sedated, taken to jail and then finally set free after 30 days of no food. If the bay has frozen, the bear will be taken to the edge of the ice by car but if the bay has not frozen then he will be air lifted about 40 miles north of Churchill. The first hint that there was a bad bear was when we saw the flares. Our bus turned to see what was happening. We found the patrol firing flare guns to make a bear turn back from town. However, this bear had a mind of its own and hid in the bushes. A helicopter was called to scare him out and chase him to the waters edge. Finally to the edge he went but even then he did not want to give up his pursuit of food in town. However, at last he set off swimming. It was quite a chase and quite a sight! The final moment came when we left the chase to see a bear being released by helicopter from the bear jail.

Last night we were treated to clear skies and still more bears that gathered around our polar rover as we enjoyed a celebratory meal on the tundra. We toasted a great guide, a great rover driver who found all the bears, the friendships we made and most importantly the bears. One final huge bear approached the vehicle and raised up on his hind quarters to put his face at the window where I was sitting. It was a farewell nose kiss.

There may not be any more bear adventures as we had back today, but join me on December 2 when I board a plane for Delhi. From there it is out to the tiger reserves with hopes that there will be as many tigers as bears. This has been a wonderful trip and a magical experience. I have felt so close to nature from the Northern Lights shimmering in the sky to the wonder of a mighty polar bear.