Journey to Churchill, Manitoba, Canada for Polar Bears, Beluga Whales, and More
by Paul H.Green
Churchill, Manitoba is located on the Hudson Bay at the mouth of the Churchill River. In the autumn, the bay begins to freeze, attracting polar bears from inland. It is known as the "polar bear capital of the world" because so many gather in one place to wait for the freeze. The bears then move out onto the ice where they will hunt seals during the winter.
Churchill lies on the western shore of the Hudson Bay, about 650 miles north of Winnipeg, Manitoba. It is ice-free for several months out of the year. It is Canada's main port on the Hudson Bay, established in the 1700s to accommodate the fur trade. The Hudson Bay Company established and built the fort at the mouth of the river.
This is an area between two completely different ecosystems, the boreal forest to the south, and the Arctic tundra to the north. The indigenous population is only about 900 but during polar bear season it expands significantly. Churchill is popular for tourism and Arctic research. There is no highway to Churchill; visitors have to either come by plane or the Hudson Bay Railway from other parts of Canada.
The Hudson Bay played a great part in the birth of Canada as a nation. The Hudson Bay Company opened the area to world trade with their fur trade that expanded over the whole country. The Hudson Bay is part of the Arctic Ocean and covers 1.2 million square miles.
Explorers: In front, Haley Shepard (Naturalist), Kevin Burke(Guide),Lesslie Segrete, Eduardo Carbonell, Margaret Malyan, Marlise Sagesser, Paul & Tischa Green, Sue Turner and Gordon Parker, Amy Berg and Douglas Stengel,Jan Brennecke, Bobbie Edelman, John and Susan Evans, Leanne and Glenn Harkins-Waldron.
See the Polar Bears
Each October the polar bears begin their migration to the shore of the Hudson Bay. There they congregate by the hundreds and anxiously wait for the sea ice to freeze so they can begin their winter seal hunt. When the ice melts each spring, the bears are forced ashore to spend the summer. During this time the bears fast and use up the energy and fat they have stored up over the winter. At the end of this walking hibernation they are extremely hungry and eager to return to hunting.
Tourist buses called "tundra buggies" provide visitors the opportunity to safely view the bears and capture incredible pictures. The Wapusk National Park of Canada www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/mb/wapusk/index_E.asp is home to one of the world's largest maternity denning areas. The name means "white bear" in Cree and it is one of Canada's largest parks. Because of the difficult terrain, commercial operators give tours in the park and provide transportation. At the visitor's center in Churchill's Heritage Railway Station, there are displays, workshops, and dioramas that bring the park to life.
Birds, Whales, and Lights
Churchill is a fantastic place to see other wildlife besides the polar bears. Birdwatchers will be thrilled to see thousands of birds of many species in the area during the spring and summer. It isn't unusual to sight 100 species on a trip into the tundra. While you are hiking or on a tour you will undoubtedly see other wildlife such as caribou, fox, wolves, moose, and seals.
During the summer there can be as many as 57,000 beluga whales gathered together in the bay. This is an awesome sight for tourists to behold. But not only can you watch them from the shore or boats, but you can rent a dry suit and snorkeling gear and get in the water with them! They are very friendly and you can swim with them and have your picture taken among these gentle creatures. If you do not want to get in the water, take a ride on a tour boat or kayak to view the belugas.
Spring and fall are great times to see the wondrous Aurora Borealis, or the northern lights. Whether you are enjoying the comfort of a lodge or camping out in the tundra, this extraordinary sight is one that has inspired men for centuries. There are tour packages that combine bird watching and polar bear watching, and you can see the northern lights also on these tours.
Tours and Trips
Churchill has several tour companies that offer different arrangements. You can go on day trips or stay a week or more in the wilderness. Visit numerous lakes, stay in lodges or build your own igloo to experience the essence of northern life. You might even see polar bears being transported by helicopters or dog sleds racing in the Hudson Bay Quest.
Dedicated anglers will be excited by the fabulous fishing opportunities around Churchill. During the summer, a stay at one of the fishing lodges will bring in a great catch. You can fish for lake trout, northern pike, walleye, and Arctic grayling species.
Places to Visit
Visit the Eskimo Museum in Churchill www.townofchurchill.ca/cim/75C123_207T7340T278T8359T413T16705T208T8797.dhtm to learn of their lives and traditions. There is a large collection of Inuit artifacts, and you can buy souvenirs and books at the gift shop. The York Factory Historical Site is the old headquarters for the Hudson Bay Company. The building was built in 1831, the oldest building in Canada standing on permafrost. You can see museum fur-trade exhibits and special presentations on the history of the company.
To learn more of the history of the region, visit the Prince of Wales Fort National Historic Site of Canada. This mammoth fortification played an important part in the operations of the Hudson Bay Company in the 1700s.
The Churchill Northern Studies Centre www.churchillscience.ca/ is a non-profit research station on the coast of the Hudson Bay. It offers five-day learning vacations on ecology with subjects ranging from belugas to polar bears, or northern lights to wildflowers. Proceeds are used for northern research.
Staying in Churchill
If you would rather stay in town than at one of the remote lodges, the Aurora Inn is downtown close to all the restaurants and shops. It is a spacious inn featuring complete kitchens, apartment suites, and modern amenities such as high speed Internet. It is ideal for a family or an extended stay.
The Bear Country Inn is a comfortable inn with shuttle service to the airport and train station. There is a coffee room with free breakfast and refrigerators are available for the rooms upon request. The Seaport Hotel is in downtown Churchill and features a restaurant and lounge. Each room has a refrigerator, microwave, and coffeemaker.
Churchill presents incredible opportunities for photographers and nature watchers. Here you will see an amazing combination of animals and nature that is not available anywhere else. From the comfort of a lodge or boat, to sleeping outside under the stars, the variety is enormous. Visiting Churchill will be an unforgettable and memorable trip.
GSTravelAdvice Recommendations
When traveling to Churchill to see Polar Bears, you should know that not all travel companies are the same. While many companies offer accommodations and Tundra Buggy Tours, we think www.Wildlifeadventures.com with Frontiers North Adventures and www.tundrabuggy.com is among the best. Some key things to consider are the size of the group, the number of people on the Tundra Buggy, and the quality of the guides. Wild Life Adventures books groups from 18-22 people, which leaves a great deal of room in the 40 passenger Tundra Buggies allowing for the best photo opportunities; and the guides are among the best on the ice.
One caution is the additional helicopter tour: While many people will be very happy with the cost and the substance of this tour, you should know that the helicopters will pick you up at the end of one of the Tundra Buggy days and due to short daylight hours, photo opportunities may be limited. Of more concern to us is that the helicopter tour company (Hudson Bay Helicopter) places 5 to 6 people in these helicopters leaving those in the middle of the back seat almost no visibility With the cost at about $500 per person in the 2007 season, we would recommend either splurging to buy more seats that you may leave empty, allowing you to enjoy the tour; getting there early for a up-front or side seat, or passing all together.
We thought the Tundra Inn was a good place to stay. It is clean, the beds are comfortable, there is a small communal kitchen with free coffee and tea, the owners are very friendly and accommodating, and it is central to the town. A good overall café we enjoyed is Gypsy’s Bakery. Gypsy’s has good lunch and dinner specials, great bakery, and a large variety of sandwiches.