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Explore Polar Bear Alley - polar bear blog, polar bear tours, polar bear infoand polar bear pictures. Plus some good Churchill news and gossip, travel advice, links and a psychic husky.

The truth and gossip about Churchill's polar bears. Biology of western Hudson Bay bears, climate change stuff and polar bear photo gallery. Includes our famous Polar Bear Attack page!

Tourist's guide to Churchill, Manitoba, Canada includes hotels, tours, trip planning and some survival tips.

Churchill's monthly newspaper published occasionally. Churchill news, history, wildlife, poems and the ever popular BayLine Girl.

Inspired by Churchill, Lost City Chronicle is a collection of remote destinations and travel stories.

Glimpse into the future through the eyes of a gifted Siberian Husky.

Links to polar bear tours, polar bear sites, churchill links and stuff that polar bear alley thinks is neat.

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GUIDE TO THE POLAR BEARS OF CHURCHILL

• Population: A new mark-recapture study undertaken by Canadian Wildlife Service indicates that there are between 900 and 1000 polar bears in the western Hudson Bay population.

• Size: Adult males are approximately 2.5 metres (7.5') in length. At shoulder height (on all four legs), they can be up to 1.5 metres (4.5') and may reach up to four metres (12'+) standing on their hind legs.

• Weight: Adult males can weigh as little as 300kg to 800+kg (660-1760 lbs). Most however range between 400-600 kg (880-1320 lbs). The largest male weight recorded was 654 kg, bears larger than this are too big for the scale. Their weight is extimated through measurements of girth and length. Smaller than males, females commonly weigh in at 150 to 250 kg (330-550 lbs). Pregnant females, however, may reach in excess of 400 kg (880 lbs) prior to denning.

• Maturity: Male polar bears reach their full size usually between the ages of 8-10 years, females by 5-6 years. Sexual maturity most commonly occurs around age five.

• Longevity: In the wild, males may live to about 25 years of age, females into their late twenties or early thirties.

• Diet: Predominantly ringed seal (usually seals one year of age or younger) but depending on ice conditions, harbour and bearded seals are also consumed in Hudson Bay although to a lesser extent. They are also opportunistic hunters and scavengers and may graze on sedges, grasses and berries in the summer.

• Reproduction: Mating occurs in April and May with pregnancy initiating in mid-September or early October. Cubs are born in early to mid-December (possibly as early as mid-November). Females must have at least 200kg (440 lbs) of fat reserves for implantation to occur in late September. Most common litter size is two, followed by litters of single cubs; triplets are rare.

Guide to the Polar Bears of Churchill

Heading up to Churchill for a polar bear tour or just interested in bears? Here are a few pages about the polar bears of Churchill and their life on Hudson Bay.

The Spring Hunt

Summer on Land

Polar Bear Season

On the Ice

Polar Bear Population

Polar Bear Hunting Adaptations

Mothers and Cubs