Polar Bears Are Gathering in Canada--and You Can Watch Them Live

[Judi Lynn]

Bears return to Churchill, Manitoba, every autumn to await the formation of sea ice on the Hudson Bay

Sarah Kuta
Daily Correspondent
November 2, 2022



Polar bears are back in Churchill, Manitoba. Courtesy of Kieran McIver / Polar Bears International
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Every autumn, hundreds of polar bears return to Churchill, Manitoba—Canada’s northernmost seaport, a.k.a. the “polar bear capital of the world.” There, they wait for sea ice to form on Hudson Bay. The hungry bears have been fasting for months, so they’re eager for the opportunity to once again hunt their favorite food: ringed seals.

But to watch these majestic marine mammals, wildlife lovers don’t have to venture all the way to chilly Canada. Several live video streams—run by Polar Bears International (PBI), Explore.org (which also hosts Fat Bear Week) and other organizations—offer people around the world a chance to see the bears in action.

Some of the polar bear cams are stationary, while others roam Manitoba’s Wapusk National Park aboard so-called “tundra buggy” vehicles, which serve as mobile broadcast studios.

The video streams show the vast ruggedness of the Canadian tundra, as well as various bears lumbering around, snoozing, rolling in the snow, foraging for snacks and, occasionally, wrestling playfully with each other. Other animals sometimes make appearances on the video streams too, including ptarmigans, Arctic hares, Arctic foxes and owls.

More:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/polar-bears-are-gathering-in-canada-and-you-can-watch-on-live-video-streams-180981064/