FashIntern, that’s why we went - I wanted to see them in the wild. Here is the World Wildlife Foundation’s map showing polar bear status. We were in Western Hudson Bay, where the population is considered stable. The bears we saw looked pretty healthy. I guess so if they’re hunting belugas! I was very heartened by this development.
Sterling, thank you so much. I took around 1500 pictures, so I had plenty to choose from. Here’s another of my favorite pictures.
Jenn, thank you. I never felt anything but safe. The guides manage the bears in an escalating order of threat:
Voice
Louder, angrier voice (what a bad bear!)
Clack rocks together
Throw rocks
Shoot off “bangers” and “screamers” with starter’s pistol
Shoot off shotgun
They didn’t shoot the shotgun. They shot off bangers and screamers just for our benefit, and they did have to throw rocks at two bears. Here’s a picture of a guide with his shotgun at the ready. He has rocks in his other hand.
ETA: The guides also manage the bears by managing us. We would stand together in a certain way, not walk straight up to a bear, and not closer than 100 yards.
This post has 3 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.
If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.
