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NaturePhotographers > Dennis Fast  > Animals > POLAR BEARS 2008
POLAR BEARS OF SEAL RIVER LODGE

Polar bears are among my favourite subjects, and I have spent a lot of time photographing them. Unlike most photographers of the bears, I have done most of my shooting from ground level. All of the photos in this gallery were done through Seal River Heritage Lodge run by Churchill Wild. The bears in fireweed were done from a camp set up on a small island off the coast of Hudson Bay well north of Churchill, Manitoba, Canada.

The winter bears were shot at Seal River Lodge, which runs polar bear viewing camps for a variety of guests during parts of October and November each year. It is a place I have visited often in summer, but winter is truly spectacular there. The repeating tides cover the rocky coastal landscape as winter approaches with a surreal coating of ice that is breath-taking at times. Add fog and early winter storms to the mix, and the wildlife photo opportunities are nothing short of incredible. Clear sunrise mornings are okay too!

Although this gallery features only the bears of 2008, the arctic foxes, caribou, and northern lights would probably make the trip worthwhile in their own right. I would rate this location well ahead of a Churchill-only trip if you want a truly remarkable wildlife experience away from all the trappings of town, except for a comfortable bed and fabulous food!
Gallery pages:  <  1  2  3  4  >  
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Dennis Fast > Polar Bear (Ursa maritimus) in fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium) on an island off the sub-arctic coast of Hudson Bay, Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. Bears come to spend the summer loafing on the island and looking for a careless seal or dead whale to wash up. This bear has his ears pinned back - an indication he is contemplating a charge.
Dennis Fast > POLAR BEARS WRESTLING ON SEA ICE

Polar Bear (Ursa maritimus) on sea ice off the sub-arctic coast of Hudson Bay, Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. Bears come to the coast of Hudson Bay in Fall waiting for the ice to freeze, and looking for a careless seal or for a dead whale to wash up. Global warming has shortened their winter so they are increasingly anxious as they wait for winter. While they wait, they engage in frequent wrestling matches to determine a mating hierarchy for the breeding season in March and April. During this time they regularly check on the ice to see if it will carry them out to sea.
Dennis Fast > Polar Bear (Ursa maritimus) in fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium) on an island off the sub-arctic coast of Hudson Bay, Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. Bears come to spend the summer loafing on the island and looking for a careless seal or dead whale to wash up. Global warming has shortened their winter so they are increasingly looking for food in the summer.
Dennis Fast > POLAR BEARS WRESTLING ON SEA ICE

Polar Bear (Ursa maritimus) on sea ice off the sub-arctic coast of Hudson Bay, Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. Bears come to the coast of Hudson Bay in Fall waiting for the ice to freeze, and looking for a careless seal or for a dead whale to wash up. Global warming has shortened their winter so they are increasingly anxious as they wait for winter. While they wait, they engage in frequent wrestling matches to determine a mating hierarchy for the breeding season in March and April. During this time they regularly check on the ice to see if it will carry them out to sea.
Dennis Fast > Polar Bear (Ursa maritimus) in fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium) on an island off the sub-arctic coast of Hudson Bay, Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. Bears come to spend the summer loafing on the island and looking for a careless seal or dead whale to wash up. Global warming has shortened their winter so they are increasingly looking for food in the summer.
Dennis Fast > POLAR BEAR ON HUDSON BAY ICE

Polar Bear (Ursa maritimus) on sea ice off the sub-arctic coast of Hudson Bay, Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. Bears come to the coast of Hudson Bay in Fall waiting for the ice to freeze, and looking for a careless seal or for a dead whale to wash up. Global warming has shortened their winter so they are increasingly anxious as they wait for winter. While they wait, they engage in frequent wrestling matches to determine a mating hierarchy for the breeding season in March and April. During this time they regularly check on the ice to see if it will carry them out to sea.
Dennis Fast > POLAR BEAR IN FIREWEED

Polar Bear (Ursa maritimus) in fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium) on an island off the sub-arctic coast of Hudson Bay, Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. This bear was glistening white in the sun because he had just swum in from some distant ice floe. Bears come to spend the summer loafing on the island and looking for a careless seal or dead whale to wash up.
Dennis Fast > POLAR BEARS WRESTLING ON SEA ICE

Polar Bear (Ursa maritimus) on sea ice off the sub-arctic coast of Hudson Bay, Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. Bears come to the coast of Hudson Bay in Fall waiting for the ice to freeze, and looking for a careless seal or for a dead whale to wash up. Global warming has shortened their winter so they are increasingly anxious as they wait for winter. While they wait, they engage in frequent wrestling matches to determine a mating hierarchy for the breeding season in March and April. During this time they regularly check on the ice to see if it will carry them out to sea.
Dennis Fast > POLAR BEAR IN FIREWEED

Polar Bear (Ursa maritimus) in fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium) on an island off the sub-arctic coast of Hudson Bay, Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. Bears come to spend the summer loafing on the island and looking for a careless seal or dead whale to wash up. Sometimes they can be seen munching on blossoms one at a time!
Polar Bear (Ursa maritimus) in fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium) on an island off the sub-arctic coast of Hudson Bay, Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. Bears come to spend the summer loafing on the island and looking for a careless seal or dead whale to wash up. This bear has his ears pinned back - an indication he is contemplating a charge.
 > Polar Bear (Ursa maritimus) in fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium) on an island off the sub-arctic coast of Hudson Bay, Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. Bears come to spend the summer loafing on the island and looking for a careless seal or dead whale to wash up. This bear has his ears pinned back - an indication he is contemplating a charge.
Polar Bear (Ursa maritimus) in fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium) on an island off the sub-arctic coast of Hudson Bay, Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. Bears come to spend the summer loafing on the island and looking for a careless seal or dead whale to wash up. This bear has his ears pinned back - an indication he is contemplating a charge.
Camera: Nikon Corporation (Nikon D2x) |
More details: exif |
Original size: 5400px x 3586px |
Current: 400px x 266px |
Other sizes: Small • M • L |
filename: DRF-VW-0005 |
Keywords: animals flower churchill canada flowers purple national animal hunters blossoms blossom bears places manitoba mammals carnivores nanook locations predators polar bears nanuk hubbart point ice bear meat eaters polar bear ursus maritimus plants flowers fruits seeds seal river fireweed epilobium agustifolium polar bear lone male polar bear in fireweed
Gallery pages:  <  1  2  3  4  >  
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