Make time to see Polar Bears

Fun

Make time to see Polar Bears at a variety of Churchill, Hudson Bay locations.

Polar Bears are more active on these webcams

from October-November before the freezing of the sea ice.

It is an excellent way to observe their behaviors.

These webcams are at https://polarbearsinternational.org/education-center/polar-bear-cams/

Filming Arctic Polar Bears

Gain Digital Camera and Video Camera advice

from experienced professionals:

(Cold-weather Expedition Experience is a plus

for a camera equipment advisor.)

B&H Photo in NYC has dedicated departments

with expert advisors to listen to your needs and

make some camera equipment recommendations

for purchase. Ask for their best pricing.

www.bhphoto video.com

If you purchase from B&H they can also schedule FREE online coaching sessions to learn how to best use your camera equipment. They have excellent experts.

Buy extra camera batteries with multiple chargers.

The extremely cold weather reduces the camera battery's charge.Keep extra batteries in a container and/or glove to keep them at room temperature.

-Remember your cameras need to operate in freezing temperatures.The fogging of lenses will ruin your images. You will need to keep the camera at the same freezing temperatures as the outside air.Be careful about keeping long lens outside the tundra buggy windowas the polar bear can jump to grab your camera lens while right below the window.

-Protect your head, hands and feet from the severe cold and you will have more endurance for your image-making goals. Try silk liners within your gloves to give you added warmth. Cold hands can easily drop camera equipment.

-Protect your eyes from the UV reflection from the sun and ice reflections.

Eyes can also fatigue faster in cold dry air conditions.

Contact ReallyRightstuff.com for the best connecting

devices to secure the camera to your specific tripod mount.They are highly experienced in all camera fittings,

Tripod heads and tripods. Have your camera next to you when you contact them.

Getting GREAT images is about the quality of the

Filmmaker/Photographers preparation. Anticipation

is a core capability of capturing the moment and

having one's camera equipment ready. Never underestimatewhat freezing cold weather can do to camera equipment.

Where do wild polar bears live?

World Wildlife Fund Data 2024-

Arctic Wild Polar Bear Populations

(Ursus maritimus)

In the Arctic, there are an estimated 26,000 wild

polar bears (marine mammals) that can be

verified through field biologists, radio tracking,

aerial sightings and other scientific observational

methods. Wild polar bears do have expansive coastal and marine territories that allow them to hunt on large sea ice areas and along with vast

open water. Tracking wild polar bear

populations are not easy to achieve.

Some wild polar bear populations locations include:

Sixty to eighty percent of polar bears live in Canada.

-Explore an Arctic Map to find these locations and

appreciate the extreme travel ranges for wild polar bears.

Canada, USA-Alaska, Greenland, Norway, Russia

INCREASING WILD POLAR BEAR POPULATIONS:

M'clintock Channel, Canada

Kane Basin, Greenland

STABLE WILD POLAR BEAR POPULATIONS:

-Chukchi Sea, Alaska, USA

-Barents Sea, Northern Coast of Norway and Russia

-Foxe Basin, North of Hudson Bay, in Nunavut, Canada,

located between Baffin Island and the Melville Peninsula

DECLINING POLAR BEAR POPULATIONS:

(The ice is melting in early spring and ice formation

is delayed until late fall. Polar bears would have less

hunting time on the sea ice causing their weight loss.)

-Southern Hudson Bay, Canada

-Western Hudson Bay, Canada

-Southern Beaufort Sea, Canada

In some Arctic polar bear regions, there is insufficient

polar bear population data.

See www.arcticwwf.org for science-driven updates.

Arctic Human Population-

About four million people currently live

inside the arctic circle. The arctic is home

to many indigenous peoples and communities

that depend on its natural resources.

Traditional hunting of polar bears for food

subsistence was more prevalent in past years.

Now, the polar bears have more economic value

from eco-tourism which reduces polar bear hunting.

There are thirty-four species of marine mammals

and 633 fish species. Indigenous and

local communities can benefit from these

rich resources in their territories.

For them, important supplies can often only

be delivered in the summer by ice breaker cargo

ships to reach these remote Arctic communities.

Important Arctic Conservation Policies-

All Arctic Nations have made agreed to a

commitment to set aside thirty percent of

land and ocean to safeguard nature by 2030.

In addition, a High Seas Treaty to protect

international waters is currently being

negotiated to be placed into legal force.

Arctic Nations and global support for the

stewardship of these arctic goals is vital

for the world and to save wild polar bears

along with the arctic's marine life.

In 1973, Canada,the United States, Denmark,

Norway and Russia signed the International

Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears

and their habitat which strictly regulates any

commercial hunting.

IUCN's Red list status for the polar bear is listed

as Vulnerable. The polar bears' status can change

based on new scientific reports in areas impacted

by declining populations.

Saving Arctic Whales

According to WWF, the Arctic Ocean is a vital

support system for one quarter of the planet's

whale species, such as the beluga, narwhal

and bowhead whale. These whales migrate

between summer and winter feeding grounds

navigating thousands of miles.

WWF has successfully mapped these whale

"Blue Corridors" across the entire Arctic ocean

enabling them to see increased arctic shipping

traffic conflicts with these protected whales.

Information is the power to make good decisions.

Wild polar bears travel some of these ocean

corridors along with winter's ice floes.

Polar bears hunt beluga and narwhal whales

especially in Canada's Hudson Bay area.

Often, they are unable to capture these

intelligent and fast-moving whales.

Polar bears only capture about two percent

of their prey and are often very hungry.

Keep learning about wild polar bears

and the global conservation efforts

to help them thrive.