Wapusk National Park of Canada

Fauna

Polar bears

Polar bears fighting
© Parks Canada / Kevin Burke

Wapusk National Park is located within the range of the Western Hudson Bay population of polar bears, which has remained stable at about 1,200 bears for many years.

Sea ice is the natural habitat of polar bears, and it's where they hunt their major food source-- the ring seal. When the Hudson Bay ice pack melts in late July, the bears are forced to come ashore. Hudson Bay's prevailing currents bring the last Bay pack ice of the winter to land near the Wapusk coastline, and a large percentage of the bears come ashore here, south of Cape Churchill, at that time. While on shore, they congregate along the coast and fast for about 4 months, until they can hunt seals again after the Bay re-freezes. Pregnant females, who remain on land through the winter to give birth to their cubs, will fast for about 8 months. One of the world's largest known polar bear maternity denning areas is located in Wapusk National Park.

Male rump is higher than female rump. Male neck is longer and thicker than female neck. Adult males look longer, leaner and more massive. Females look stocky and fatter.
© Parks Canada

In fall (late September to November), many of the bears begin moving along the coast to intercept the first ice of the winter. In late October and early November, the number of bears peaks in areas around Cape Churchill, and along the coast between Wapusk National Park and the town of Churchill.

Bear Facts:

• Adult males average 300 to 450 kg. The largest ever recorded in Wapusk weighed just over 700 kg. Females usually weigh less than 300 kg.
• Cubs just born weigh less than 1 kg.
• Females have cubs every 2 or 3 years at Wapusk. The norm throughout the arctic is every 3 years. The oldest female known to have had cubs in Wapusk was 29 years old.
• While on land, an adult polar bear uses up about 1 kg of its fat reserves every day. A healthy pregnant female polar bear is just over 50% fat.
• The fastest human sprinters can run at just over 35 km/hr. A polar bear trots at 30 km/hr and can sprint at nearly 50 km/hr.

Safety in Polar Bear Country

Remember that while polar bears may be beautiful creatures to watch, they are also large, highly unpredictable and can be extremely dangerous. Once you arrive in Churchill, you could have an unexpected encounter with polar bears at any time, anywhere. Please read the following polar bear safety brochure.

TRACKS

Adult male tracks are larger than female tracks. (Even young male tracks are larger than tracks of older females).
© Parks Canada

Left: Male searching for a seal
Right: Female searching for a seal
© Parks Canada