The polar bear season has started, and the people of Churchill are preparing for another four to five months of living with the largest terrestrial carnivore on the planet. Every year from July through November, polar bears switch from living on the sea ice of Hudson Bay to being on land. Polar bears that inhabit Hudson Bay have always lived this way. At the southern end of the Arctic ice pack, the seasonal melt in Hudson Bay brings the bears onto land for a summer snooze. Polar bears’ metabolism slows down during the summer. They are coming off their most active time on the spring sea ice, when they were mating and fattening up on seals. Now, it is time for them to lay low on land until the sea ice refreezes. While these bears may be more relaxed, they are still dangerous. The residents of the town of Churchill take a proactive approach to safety during the polar bear season. Over the years, Churchill has created a strategy—called the Polar Bear Alert Program—that has reduced conflicts between humans and bears. Conservation officers work with residents, and when a marauding polar bear is reported, officers use deterrents to dissuade the bear from coming close to people. Churchill also has a holding facility to give any bears that remain intent on coming to town a “time out.” Polar bear guards accompany visitors to Churchill, serving as experienced eyes and ears to safeguard tourists who may not know what to look for.
