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Polar Bear Swimming in the Hudson Bay: Video and Photo Gallery

By Author Hal Brindley

Posted on Last updated:

You always hear that Polar Bears are considered marine mammals, but it never quite sinks in until you see one in the water.

Today we went for a full day Tundra Buggy Tour with Frontiers North Adventures and we were thrilled to get to see a polar bear taking a swim in the Hudson Bay.

In fact we saw FIVE different polar bears today. Which is quite amazing considering this isn’t even bear season here in Churchill, Manitoba (that’s in November when the ice begins to form). It’s actually beluga whale season right now, which is why we came up here in the first place.

So here is proof that you can see both beluga whales AND polar bears in one trip to Churchill in the summer. A big thanks to Frontiers North Adventures for an awesome day.

Here are the five bears we saw today:

Polar Bear 1: Hiding from the wind and having a nap next to a pond.
Polar Bear 1: Hiding from the wind and having a nap next to a pond.
Polar Bear 2: Napping peacefully in the fireweed.
Polar Bear 2: Napping peacefully in the fireweed.
Polar Bear 3: Went for a swim in the Hudson!
Polar Bear 3: Went for a swim in the Hudson!
Polar Bear 4: A young bear with a muddy butt.
Polar Bear 4: A young bear with a muddy butt.
Polar Bear 5: A big guy walking along the tidal flats.
Polar Bear 5: A big guy walking along the tidal flats.
Our awesome Tundra Buggy guide Neil.
Our awesome Tundra Buggy guide Neil.
This is the Tundra Buggy that took us out to see polar bears in the middle of summer!
This is the Tundra Buggy that took us out to see polar bears in the middle of summer!

Follow more of our American Safari adventures at American Safari Base Camp.

Disclaimer: Our Tundra Buggy tour was generously provided by Frontiers North Adventures but the opinions expressed herein are entirely our own.

Hal Brindley at the Antarctic Circle

Hal Brindley

Brindley is an American conservation biologist, wildlife photographer, filmmaker, writer, and illustrator living in Asheville, NC. He studied black-footed cats in Namibia for his master’s research, has traveled to all seven continents, and loves native plant gardening. See more of his work at Travel for Wildlife, Truly Wild, Our Wild Yard, & Naturalist Studio.

Laura

Tuesday 3rd of September 2013

Visiting Churchill has been on my bucket list forever now, but this video and the polar bear photos just blew me away. INCREDIBLE!

Charli | Wanderlusters

Tuesday 6th of August 2013

Such magnificent animals. I can only imagine the rush of seeing them in the wild. I'm always in awe of the size of their paws! Definitely something to view from a distance!

Cristina Garcia

Tuesday 6th of August 2013

It is so great to see them in the wild. We are very lucky to be here and to see not only the bears but the belugas too. Churchill is great in the summer!

petra

Saturday 3rd of August 2013

I am so looking forward to reading more about your adventure here. It' is now on my bucket list!

Cristina Garcia

Saturday 3rd of August 2013

So glad that you are following along! Welcome!