Seeing a polar bear in its natural habitat is an experience that many would like but few achieve. These magnificent white giants, true kings of the Arctic, live in regions so remote and specific that only a lucky few manage to come across them. This scarcity of encounters makes each sighting an unforgettable moment.
Recently, Clendon Patrick, a seasonal winter road coordinator, became one of those lucky ones when, while traveling the Wapusk Trail, a route that runs through northern Ontario, Canada, he had a close encounter with a family of polar bears.
The bear family, consisting of a mother and her two cubs, was seen as the man drove calmly along the road, in a snow-covered landscape that stretches as far as the eye can see. “It’s very inspiring to see them in real life,” Patrick told The Dodo. The most positive thing is that all three looked fabulous, a fact to take into account knowing that these animals are one of the great victims of climate change: “Having a healthy population of polar bears is very promising.”
The Wapusk Trail, which means white bear in the Cree language, is the longest seasonal winter trail in the world, stretching 752 kilometers from Peawanuck to Gillam, Manitoba. This route serves as a vital link to remote communities during the harsh winter months, but also acts as a natural corridor for the Arctic’s impressive wildlife, including polar bears.
“Normally, it is at this time of the month that they travel to the ice with their young,” Patrick explained, highlighting the rarity and importance of such a sighting. This year, polar bears have delayed their usual migration into the bay by two to three weeks, which, according to Mike Hunter’s comments on Patrick’s post, is a noteworthy change in their migratory behavior.
Patrick’s incredible journey didn’t end with his encounter with the polar bears. He later also had the opportunity to capture the beauty of northern Ontario in other ways. In addition to the photos of the bear family, he was also able to take the northern lights and sunrise, equally spectacular events that, according to him, phone cameras fail to capture in all their glory.
