Life in Churchill
Churchill is known as the “Polar Bear Capital of the World.” It’s located along the shore of Hudson Bay in Manitoba, Canada. The town is located in the far north of Manitoba, so it is very, very cold. The tundra landscape is covered by ice and rocky ground, with a very thin layer of soil that typically can only produces low-growing vegetation like berry bushes, lichens, and mosses. There aren’t any paved roads going in or out of the town since there are no other nearby towns to connect to. If you want to get into Churchill, you’ll have to fly or use the train. Churchill is a port town with only around 870 people living in it. However, its shipping season is very short, usually from July to November. After that, Hudson Bay freezes over, making it the perfect environment for polar bears to hunt for seals. But the polar bears don’t wait for the ice to begin preparing for their winter feast. In fact, many bears begin arriving in Churchill as early as July, spending their summer here as they wait for the bay to freeze over.
The Polar Bear Capital of the World
Polar bears are the largest type of bear in the world, with adult males weighing up to 1,500 pounds and reaching 8 to 10 feet in length! They are also one of the strongest and most powerful animals on earth. Their massive size and strength help them to survive in their harsh Arctic environment, where they rely on the sea ice for hunting. Around 1,000 of these large arctic creatures migrate to Churchill from July to November as they wait for Hudson Bay to freeze over. And yet, during this time, the human residents of Churchill live side-by-side with these massive animals. So, how do they do it?
Living With Polar Bears
During polar bear season, Churchill’s residents leave their car doors unlocked. That way, if someone needs to escape a polar bear quickly, they can jump in any nearby car for safety. That’s right: the bears don’t just come near Churchill—they often walk right on down into the city! If anyone sees a polar bear in Churchill, they can call the Polar Bear Alert (PBA) Line (204-675-BEAR). In addition, PBA staff help to chase any polar bears out of town if they get too close, using loud noises or rubber bullets. However, if a polar bear is not deterred and continues to stay in town, it is captured and placed in polar bear jail. This Polar Bear Holding Facility helps to temporarily contain problem bears that might pose a threat to humans or property. Don’t worry, the good news is that if a bear does end up in polar bear jail, it isn’t harmed. Instead, the polar bear gets a health exam and checkup, as well as a tracker. Then it is relocated safely out into the wild. After all, polar bears are an important part of the local ecosystem! When the bears first begin to show up in town (usually in early July), there is also a dusk-to-dawn curfew, and everyone must be off the streets and in their homes. This helps to keep both humans and bears safe. Many residents also have a bear horn and bear spray in their homes, and cars are often equipped with bear guards (think cattle guards but for bears). They also use special “bear-proof” garbage cans throughout the town to keep polar bears away from tempting leftovers. In short, everyday life in Churchill revolves around polar bears.
Visiting the Polar Bear Capital of the World
While there are only around 870 human residents in Churchill, this small town is a very popular destination spot during polar bear season. Although you are likely to see bears throughout the summer, the most popular time to visit is in October and November, when the bears’ numbers are the highest. In addition to polar bears, there is a whole host of wildlife in Churchill, including arctic hares, arctic foxes, caribou, and over 300 species of birds. From July through early September, you can also see thousands of migrating beluga whales along the town’s coastline. In fact, Churchill is one of only two places in North America where you can see polar bears and beluga whales at the same time (the other place is Alaska).
Polar Bear Tours
One of the most popular tourist activities in Churchill is polar bear watching. Visitors can sign up for Jeep tours or take a ride on the famous Tundra Buggy — a specially designed vehicle that looks like a cross between a school bus and a tank! These tours give visitors an up-close look at these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat. Just be sure to dress warmly! Even in summer, temperatures in Churchill can dip below freezing. There are several different tour companies in Churchill for seeing polar bears and beluga whales. Depending on the season, you can even take a snorkeling tour to see the beluga whales up close and personal in the water! But be sure to book in advance — as you can imagine, spots fill up rather quickly. Here are a few of the top ones:
Frontiers North AdventuresGreat White Bear ToursSea North ToursLazy Bear Expeditions
Churchill also offers many great places to stay during your visit, like the Lazy Bear Lodge, the Aurora Inn, the Seaport Hotel, and the Tundra Inn. For more adventurous visitors, you can stay at one of the remote eco-lodges of Churchill Wild or enjoy a night in a sleeper car right on the tundra at the Tundra Buggy Lodge. And of course, the town offers an excellent selection of arctic cuisine and Manitoba specialties.
More To Do in Churchill
While the polar bears may be the star of the show in Churchill, the town also offers many other fun activities to enjoy. You can check out the Itsanitaq Museum, which contains the world’s best collection of Inuit carvings and artifacts. There is plenty of shopping for souvenirs in stores like Fifty-Eight North, the Arctic Trading Company, and Wapusk General Store, as well as occasional pop-up markets from local artisans. And don’t forget about one of the best winter activities — dog sledding! Churchill River Mushing, Wapusk Adventures, Bluesky Expeditions, and Harness Adventures Mushing Co. all offer excellent dogsledding experiences. And while the Northern Lights usually peak from January through March, in Churchill you can see the sky light up for 300 days out of the year! Churchill may be small — but it’s definitely mighty! It’s not every day that you find a city with more polar bears than human residents. This unique town has managed to put itself on the map by being one of the best places in North America to see polar bears in their natural habitat. For several months out of the year, these massive animals migrate through the area in search of food — and the residents of Churchill have learned that they can safely coexist with them.
Safely Dealing With Polar Bears
Churchill is a unique town in many ways, but perhaps its most defining characteristic is its proximity to polar bears. If you are thinking about visiting Churchill, be prepared to share your vacation with these furry giants. The first step in dealing with polar bears is to avoid them altogether. That means being vigilant about keeping your doors and windows shut and locked at all times. It also means not going outside and avoiding confrontation if you see a polar bear around. If you must go outside, make sure you go with someone else and carry bear spray — just in case. If you do encounter a polar bear, the best thing to do is to stay calm and back away slowly. Speak in a soft voice and don’t make any sudden movements — and whatever you do, don’t run! Bears can run up to 40 miles per hour, so you won’t be able to outrun one if it decides to chase you. Bear spray is your best defense against an aggressive bear; just be sure to aim for the bear’s face.
Polar Bear Status
Polar bears may be large and in charge in many ways, but they are also quite vulnerable in the world today. In fact, polar bears are sometimes called “the canary in the coal mine” because they are one of the first species to suffer from the effects of climate change. Melting sea ice due to climate change is a major threat to polar bears, as it reduces their access to food and increases their risk of drowning. In addition, polar bears are hunted by humans for their fur and meat. There are a few things you can do to help polar bears and other Arctic wildlife. One is to support organizations that are working to protect them. Another is to reduce your own carbon emissions to help slow down climate change. Finally, you can spread the word about the importance of conserving these iconic animals.
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There is a chance that you will see some polar bears in Churchill anytime from July into November. However, the best time to see polar bears in Churchill is from October through November. Why are there polar bears in Churchill? The freshwater of Hudson Bay freezes over during the winter. As the weather gets colder, polar bears migrate to the area, where they will live and hunt on the ice during the winter freeze. How many polar bears are in Churchill? There are 13 populations of polar bears in Canada totaling around 15,000 individual bears. From July through November, 1,000 of these polar bears migrate to Churchill and Hudson Bay. Are there other types of bears in Churchill? Historically only polar bears lived in Churchill. However, in 2018 researchers reported observing black bears, grizzly bears, and polar bears all sharing the same spot in Wapusk National Park near Churchill, along the shore of Hudson Bay. This is the result of climate change, as the bears are forced to travel further and find new hunting grounds. Can you see the Northern Lights in Churchill? Churchill is located right under the Auroral Oval in the Northern Hemisphere, making it one of the best places on earth to see the Northern Lights (Aurora borealis). You can see the sky light up with beautiful colors for over 300 nights during the year!
