Jed

We went to see the bears in Churchill several years ago. With the recent news about global warming, I was wondering if anyone has been there this year, and if the bears were affected.

eenusa

Interested in hearing about this as well. We're planning a trip in Nov 08.

klam_chowder

Count me in this boat as well. Actually we've wanted to go for a few years now and have made it a priority to go asap sadly because of global warming.

We will know in January if we will be able to go, and will research and book the trip by Feb for late 2008.

Jed, just curious if you posted a trip report on it? I know there are a few threads on Churchill but can't remember who the authors are.

Enjoy-la!

SallyCanuck

Sorry, I've not visited Churchill but here are some sites that might answer your question: http://www.churchillscience.ca/?page=ab_attrac_bears

http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/media/p...climate-change

http://www.cnw.ca/fr/releases/archiv.../05/c7701.html

Jed

Hi klam - glad you asked.

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34455306

klam_chowder

Thx a mint for the link, Jed. Interesting details in your report too.

Enjoy-la!

Lordy

Are the polar bears still able to be seen in late December / January?
Thanks
Donna

eenusa

I don't think so. My understanding is that once the sea ice forms, the bears leave to go hunting. The latest excursions I've seen are in November - granted the dates for 2008 are later than they were in 2007, so who knows what mother nature is going to throw at us.

Lordy

Thanks for the reply
Donna

primobacio14204

Wow, I would love to do this trip. I saw something about it on the discovery channel and it was great. I was reading posts from about 10 years ago and ppl were reporting seeing 30 polar bears. Are people seeing less now a days??

eenusa

We're booked for a mid-November trip, staying at the Tundra Buggy Lodge - keeping our fingers crossed that we see lots of bears.

klam_chowder

eenusa - how very exciting for you!!

We're hoping to go this year too (won't know till Feb if we can). If you don't mind me asking, which operator did you book thru?

Enjoy-la!

eenusa

Since we wanted to stay at the Tundra Buggy Lodge we booked with Frontiers North Adventures directly (http://www.tundrabuggy.com/). (You can probably book through a travel agency as well, but we did not look into that option.) Not sure of the status of the other 2008 departures, but the one to Cape Churchill (they do this only at the very end of the season with a very limited number of people) is sold out - we were number 10 on the waitlist for this one even though we contacted them March 2007. It's not looking good for us to clear the waitlist, so we've decided to go on the "Tundra Buggy Lodge at Polar Bear Point" - the photo specialist group.

toedtoes

Eenusa - please do a trip report. I would love to hear how you liked the Tundrabuggy. I've been wanting to go since I read Will Ferguson's account. I guess I better pick a year and make my reservations asap.

eenusa

Will do, toedtoes - can you direct me to Will Ferguson's account; there is so little out there that I try to read everything I can.

klam_chowder

eenusa - thx a mint for sharing. Have a fab trip!

Enjoy-la!

toedtoes

It's in his Beauty Tips from Moosejaw book - one chapter. Very interesting account.

eenusa

Thanks toedtoes - I just put it on hold at my local library.