Polar Bear Watching Holidays

The self-pronounced "Polar bear capital of the world” is Churchill, on Hudson Bay in Northern Manitoba, Canada. At the onset of winter you can stay out on the tundra in a purpose-built mobile “lodge”, or make daily sorties from town. In summer, a stay at a wilderness lodge gives sightings of mothers and their cubs

Any summertime expedition voyage to the island of Spitsbergen in Norway’s Svalbard archipelago usually offers sightings of individual bears, or occasionally a mother with one or more cubs, out on the ice floes. These are sometimes attracted right up to the vessel out of sheer curiosity. 

Polar bear

The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is a single species found throughout the northern hemisphere circumpolar region. It normally lives on pack ice within 300 kilometres of land, coming ashore for the short summer season. These massive animals – males can measure up to 2.6 metres tall and weigh over 400 kilogrammes – are solitary by nature, powerful and seemingly tireless swimmers, and ruthlessly skilful hunters.

Apex Predators

Polar bears are at the top of the Arctic food chain, making them apex predators. With their incredible strength and keen hunting skills, they primarily prey on seals, particularly ringed and bearded seals. They're powerful swimmers and can cover long distances in search of food. They've been known to swim for hundreds of kilometres without stopping, using their large front paws to paddle through the water. Their thick fur and blubber provide excellent insulation against the extreme cold temperatures. Relying heavily on sea ice for hunting, the polar bears use the ice as a platform to stalk seals and ambush them when they come up for air through breathing holes or cracks in the ice. 

Best places to see polar bear

One of the best places to see polar bears is Churchill in northern Manitoba, Canada, where they congregate at the start of winter to wait for pack ice to form in Hudson Bay. During summer there may be opportunities to see mothers with their cubs on land. Somewhat closer to home, it is estimated that around 3,000 individuals inhabit the waters around the island of Spitsbergen in the Svalbard archipelago, where they can be seen during an expedition voyage.

Social Behaviour

While polar bears are typically solitary animals, they do exhibit some social behaviour, especially during the breeding season and when congregating around concentrated food sources, such as seal carcasses. Males may engage in playful sparring matches to establish dominance and mating rights, while females with cubs are more likely to move away, to protection and support their young. Like other bears, polar bears use body language to convey emotions. This may include postures such as standing on hind legs to appear larger, as a sign of dominance or aggression. They may also use head tilting, ear flattening, and facial expressions to communicate.