To explore the surprising and fascinating life in Churchill, the southernmost remote town in Canada, which is “surrounded” by 10,000 polar bears, travelers must arrive by train or plane every autumn.
The small, frigid town of Churchill, known as the “polar bear capital”, is an attractive destination for adventurous travelers.
There are no roads leading to Churchill in Canada, located near the northeastern tip of Manitoba, but that doesn’t stop thousands of visitors from traveling by train or plane to visit each fall. The small town has a population of about 900 residents.
Polar bears are the “specialty” that attracts tourists to Churchill.
What attracts visitors most in this area is the opportunity to tour and witness one of the largest carnivorous species in the world, the polar bear.
The Churchill region is one of the few places in the southern hemisphere where polar bears can be found. These bears spend most of the year on the ice of Hudson Bay hunting seals. When the ice melts in summer, they must come ashore for several months.
Although the seal hunting season only lasts from fall when the sea ice begins to form after months of summer melting, polar bears are still frequently spotted around the town year-round.
Carlos Osorio, a photographer who has visited Churchill to capture images of polar bears, stated: “During the bear season, locals say they see them quite often. The taxi driver who took me from the airport to the hotel mentioned that just the day before I arrived, a bear was spotted in the town’s large yard.”
Photographer Carlos Osorio captures two polar bears playing in the snow.
In Churchill, encounters with these massive creatures are quite common. The town has implemented several measures to mitigate risks for residents. There is a 24/7 hotline that people use to report bear sightings.
There is also a bear patrol team with staff monitoring the area. The town has begun testing a new radar system to alert when bears are approaching.
Polar bear attacks on humans are extremely rare, with the last incident occurring in 2013 and no fatal attacks reported since the early 1980s.
Locals have developed the habit of leaving their car doors unlocked in case someone needs to find shelter when encountering a polar bear on the road.
Carlos Osorio noted: “You need to be careful and avoid going out alone; there are some tools to deter bears. Some people carry handguns and fire them into the air to scare off bears in emergencies. Of course, you need a permit to use a firearm.”
According to the bear patrol, when a bear is spotted in town, their first action is to drive it away. They may use rubber bullets or paintball guns to deter the bear and push it away from populated areas.
An old airplane hangar repurposed as a temporary holding area for polar bears before being released back into the wild.
Snow falling along Kelsey Avenue in Churchill at night.
If the bear continues to enter the town, they will use bait to trap it or shoot it with tranquilizer darts and then transport it to a temporary holding facility.
At the holding facility, which used to be an old airplane hangar, the bear’s health and tracking equipment will be checked before it is released back into the wild.
The peak bear season occurs in October and November, just before Hudson Bay freezes over. This is when bears start migrating north and congregating near the shore, giving tourists the best chance to see them.
In recent decades, the bear season has been extending due to climate change. Polar bears need ice to survive as it allows them to walk on water and hunt seals. Being forced to spend more time on land makes it harder for bears to find food, significantly impacting bear populations in recent years.
This situation is not only happening in Churchill but also in many other parts of the world, such as Alaska, Norway, and Greenland. According to international conservation groups, polar bear populations have declined by 30%, and their body size has also decreased.
Carlos Osorio expressed that he thoroughly enjoyed his trip to Churchill, but warned about the harsh and extremely cold weather. He endured a snowstorm with freezing winds and temperatures dropping to minus 20 degrees Celsius.
In addition to polar bears, tourists have the opportunity to watch beluga whales gathering in the bay, enjoying the experience of witnessing the pristine wilderness in this frigid region.
