Polar Bear Trip Report 2025

Churchill, Canada
November 2- 8, 2025

 November 2, 2025

6:18 a.m. We’re on the charter plane to Churchill, it has begun! 

All the guests arrived, all the bags showed up, and we’re officially off on an adventure.

Excitement is in the air. The journey north has begun.

The flight was smooth, and before long, we were touching down in Churchill. 

We dropped our bags at the lodge, ran into town for groceries and snacks, sat through our safety briefing, and then wasted no time heading out to find bears.

This season there are a few new rules, we’re required to stay at least 100 meters away from bears. 

We’ll see how that goes once curiosity kicks in on both sides.

It didn’t take long to find our first bear, what a great way to start the trip.

Not long after, we found another bear along the roadside. 

This one had a bad leg and a noticeable limp. We took a few photos, then called Parks Services to report it and see if they could check on him.

A report came in about a snowy owl, so we followed the lead, but it turned out to be far out in the distance, too far for photos, but still exciting to know they’re around.

Our friend Mark then spotted with binoculars a large flock of ptarmigan grazing in an open field. We drove over to photograph them, and before long, they grazed so close that they were all around us. Beautiful, curious little birds, that was a fun moment for everyone.

Leaving the birds behind, we went searching for “toothier” animals again.

On the way back to the lodge, we crossed paths with the injured bear once more.

 He was a little more active this time, limping quickly across the road into the thicker forest. It’s going to be a tough season for him once the big males return. 

I hope he makes it, he’s got a hard fight ahead.

As we neared the lodge, we heard reports of another bear nearby. 

Sure enough, one was out on the tundra behind the lodge. We returned to the safety of the fenced yard and were rewarded with an incredible show.

For about an hour, the bear roamed around the property and found Remi’s truck with some trash in the bed. 

He tried to tear into the bag. Remi, the lodge owner, fired two warning shots into the air to scare him off, but the bear didn’t flinch, he was too focused on his meal.

Eventually, Emma, one of the bear guides, arrived in a van, revved the engine, and the bear finally backed off though he didn’t go far. 

He lay down nearby, clearly waiting for us to leave so he could make another attempt. 

Remi quickly moved the truck and trash inside the fenced area to keep him out.

We ended Day One with a bang, literally. It was an incredible start to the trip, full of bears, surprises, and that familiar Churchill magic.