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An account of our trip to this fantastic region of Canada, and our encounters with the majestic Polar Bear.

Churchill, the Polar Bear capital of the world

Djb1166
2004-03-11 16:38:12

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were already roaming around outside the lodge, much to everyone's delight. After breakfast we geared up again and headed out
on another walk. We headed down onto the lake where both the cubs were resting. One of the cubs immediately got up and
headed towards the group. As cameras clicked Dennis made ready with his gun and, when it looked like the cub was going to
keep coming, he fired a cracker shell. The cub ambled away across the lake followed by its sibling, camera lenses tracking
them as they went. What a fantastic experience to see such a powerful animal at such close quarters. It was great to see
them from inside the lodge but to be out on foot with them is something else! We headed down towards the mud flats and
looped back towards the lodge, stopping at various points as Dennis imparts information about the area and wildlife. During
one of the stops Aileen spots a bear on the ridge where we have just come from. It's difficult to judge the size at first
but then a second appears and we realise the cubs have followed us. A short standoff follows before the cubs turn and head
back towards the lodge, the same direction as us but a few hundred metres to our right. We keep an eye on them but they
eventually disappear as they outpace us back to the lodge.

Back at the lodge it was hot drinks all round as we sat around taking in the scenery through the big windows in the lounge.
Suddenly Jack spots a wolf but despite our best attempts the rest of us fail to see it. A few minutes later and Leonie spots
him again and this time we all see him and cameras and video cameras are trained on him as he zigzags through the willows. A
few minutes later he disappeared behind the lodge, the last we saw of him. Dennis tells us how lucky we have been as wolf
sightings are quite rare in that area. After that excitement it was time for lunch, Caribou ...