THE WILD MINUTE
Polar Bears of Churchill, Canada
November 2 - 8, 2025
Each year, as the first snow drifts across Hudson Bay, the polar bears gather along the frozen shoreline near Churchill.
This remote corner of Canada is one of the best places on Earth to see and photograph these incredible animals in their natural habitat.
This season, we’re sharing the experience through The Wild Minute, short, real-time stories from the field that bring you closer to the bears, the cold, and the rhythm of life on the tundra.
Our journey begins November 2. Follow along as the stories unfold.
Wild Minute - Travel Day, Episode 1 | Journey to Churchill… The Adventure Begins.
November 1, 2025.
The journey begins in Winnipeg, Canada. Tomorrow, I’ll fly north to Churchill, the edge of the Arctic, where polar bears roam the frozen shoreline of Hudson Bay.
This first Wild Minute sets the stage for the adventure ahead… photographing polar bears, Arctic foxes, and the wildlife that call this frozen world home.
Wild Minute - Day One, Episode 2 | Four Polar Bears and a Mischievous Polar Bear
November 2, 2025.
Day 1. The Wild Minute journey begins with a 6 a.m. flight from Winnipeg to Churchill, heading north to the edge of the Arctic. After a quick check-in at the lodge, we were out in the field, and within hours, the adventure began.
It was a great first day, Four polar bears, and a huge flock of friendly ptarmigans to photograph. The highlight of the day was when one mischievous bear came right up to the lodge fence, which was exciting for every guest watching from inside.
Can’t wait to see what day two brings…
📖 Read the Full Story
Dive deeper into the day’s encounters, behind-the-lens notes, and photos… Read the Report.
Wild Minute - Day Two, Episode 3 | Eleven Polar Bears, Arctic Hares & a Lunch Break Visitor
November 3, 2025.
Day 2. The tundra was alive with bears today today. A big covey of ptarmigans lifted through the snow, three Arctic hares made a rare and beautiful appearance, and the bears seemed like they were everywhere.
We had eleven polar bear encounters throughout the day, a couple of them might of been the same bears, including another surprise visit from our curious bear friend who wandered back to the lodge during lunch.
The trip has been perfect so far… BUT, we need snow!!!
📖 Read the Full Story
Dive deeper into the day’s encounters, behind-the-lens notes, and photos… Read the Report.
Wild Minute - Day Three, Episode 4 | High Winds, Five Bears & Our First Cross Fox
Day 3. The Arctic reminded us who’s in charge today. Strong winds swept across the tundra, forcing us to call it a day early, but not before a flurry of encounters.
We spotted five different polar bears today and had our first cross fox, sighting, a rare and beautiful color morph of the red fox.
Even on the short days, Churchill never disappoints.
📖 Read the Full Story
Dive deeper into the day’s encounters, behind-the-lens notes, and photos… Read the Report.
Wild Minute - Day Four, Episode 5 | Ten Polar Bears and the First Snowfall
Day 4. The Arctic is changing. Today we finally got our first snow, just a light peppering across the tundra, but enough to transform the landscape.
We counted ten polar bears throughout the day, including our familiar lodge visitor.
Most kept their distance, moving quietly through the open terrain, the dusting of snow framing every step.
The calm before the next storm.
📖 Read the Full Story
Dive deeper into the day’s encounters, behind-the-lens notes, and photos… Read the Report.
Wild Minute - Day Five, Episode 6 | The Ice Forms and the Bears Gather
Day 5. The day we’ve been waiting for, snow on the ground and ice forming on Hudson Bay. The landscape is shifting, and the bears feel it too.
We counted 9 different polar bears, including our familiar lodge visitor.
As the sea ice begins to freeze, more bears are gathering along the shoreline, restless, alert, and ready for the hunt to begin.
The tension is building… winter has finally arrived.
📖 Read the Full Story
Dive deeper into the day’s encounters, behind-the-lens notes, and photos… Read the Report.
Wild Minute - Day Six, Episode 7 | Churchill, Canada
The final day in Churchill delivered it all. Polar Bear Alley came alive, bears everywhere, the tundra blanketed in snow, and the light shifting by the minute.
We experienced everything the Arctic could offer in a single day: sunshine, snowstorms, wind, even a bit of drizzle.
The action never stopped, one encounter after another.
It was a perfect ending to an unforgettable week on the tundra.
📖 Read the Full Story
Dive deeper into the day’s encounters, behind-the-lens notes, and photos… Read the Report.
Wild Minute - Day Seven, Episode 8 | Churchill, Canada → Norway
Our final morning in Churchill began with high winds, no visibility, and a little doubt about whether we’d even make it out. Somehow, the plane made it through, carrying us safely back to Winnipeg, but not before Churchill gave us one last gift.
The night before we left, the clouds parted and the sky exploded with color, the northern lights danced across the Arctic sky, a perfect farewell to an unforgettable week in the Canadian Arctic.
Now the journey continues.
Next stop: Norway, where we’ll dive with orcas and begin the next stories in Wild Minute.