I saw a PBS special on Polar Bears last night

[HEyHEY]

I think I'll make the journey to Churchill one day. Anyone ever been up there for the Polar Bear Migration?

[bubblesby2002]

1. Not me, but

I have a really good friend who grew up in Churchill. In fact she lived there until about 15 years ago. When we talk about stuff growing up it's amazing how different things were between us. I grew up in Vancouver watching TV and all she watched was the polar bears. They didn't even get CBC when she was little, so no hockey either. Way different eh?

I saw a little of the documentary - but was too busy studying for an exam. The little I saw - I love polar bears. :7

[Flaxbee]

2. I used to work for a wildlife photographer

named Thomas Mangelsen ( www.imagesofnature.com ); he loooooves polar bears, has been to Churchill many times. Check out his site; he's also a very nice guy & willing to talk.

[name not needed]

3. ive got a question,

what is it with you and polar bears?

[HEyHEY]

4. I have a fascination with all bears

Polar bears I like because they have the most interesting behavior.

[tigereye]

5. great program

the rangers or whatever they were called have quite a job, esp. airlifting the families out of the way. What killed me were the tourists just wandering around waiting to be mauled.

[HEyHEY]

6. Yeah I don't understand why people don't understand the danger

Tourists in my area have been known to try to feed bears and moose's
One time I got in to an argument with an Israeli guy who insisted he could get out and pet a grizzly bear cub.....idiot.

[jpak]

7. I spent 4 months on a Canadian icebreaker

in Smith Sound and Kane Basin area.

Saw lots of polar bears.

One day, we watched a young female pounce on a seal lair. She dug like crazy - snow everywhere - until all we could see was her butt. She came up empty though...

Another time a big male was circling the ship when we were pulled up into the ice. I yelled "F*ck You!" at him - and he turned around and looked me straight in the eye. Made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.

I had a friend who helicoptered from the ship to remote locations so she could make seal surveys using hydrophones dropped down through holes in the ice. One day they took off from their survey site and found that a bear had stalked to within 30 feet of the helo - boy were they spooked!

I have another friend who had a bear get into her tent while she was working on an archeological site - it chewed up all her books (she saved them for souvenirs). To this day she suffers from what she calls her "bear nightmares".

Polar bears also exhibit a very odd behavior. When one would see us moving through the ice, they would panic and start running. In every instance, they would not run away, but run an intercept on the ships heading. They would run to the ship, then in front of the bow, until they became exhausted. Their brains must be hard-wired for pure predatory behavior. Very strange.

Love them bears...

:)

[HEyHEY]

8. This one guy on the program

Had a bear five feet away from him, he didn't even hear it coming he just looked up from his camera and there it was. Luckily he had a shotgun and the bear ran when he fired over it's head.

But they are the only animal besides a tiger that will hunt humans.

[jpak]

9. I don't trust them at all

When we worked on the ice, we always had 4 sets of eyeballs and 2 guys with firearms on guard.

After a little practice, you can pick the bears up moving miles away (they older ones develop a yellowish coat). That is, when they want you to see them...

Never had to use the guns though....

[Lisa]

10. I worked up there for several summers ...

Churchill Northern Studies Centre (out at the NRC rocket base).

It's spectacular. My favourite times are early June (bugs not out yet, still a bit chilly but the Arctic rhododendron shrubs are amazing in flower!) -- and September-October, when the ground willow turns a beautiful crimson.

We would typically see a couple of bears each month (the folks stationed out at LaPerouse Bay would see a LOT more though) -- but from mid-August on, the numbers would steadily increase.

Out of habit, I still take a wide swing around buildings, in case something might be hiding around the corner ...


You know who else used to work up there -- Peter Mansbridge! At the airport. I wonder if he ever made the PA system announcements?