Experience Churchill's Polar Bears by Natural Habitat Adventures

Polar bear and Polar Rover, Churchill, Manitoba Photo by Nat Hab Expedition Leader Jackie Weston

Cover photo: Polar bear, Churchill, Manitoba Photo by Nat Hab traveler Arthur Leforestier

Dear Nature Traveler, It’s been more than 35 years since I first came face to face with a wild polar bear. My life was forever changed in that instant, and if you join us in Churchill this fall, I expect yours will be, too. Few animals are a more potent symbol of wilderness and the vulnerability of our planet. At the top of the Arctic food chain, polar bears are a keystone species that keeps the northern ecosystem in balance. Meeting them in person is a moving experience. And no one offers you a more meaningful encounter with polar bears than Nat Hab. Born of our decades of experience, our distinctive itineraries stand alone. Canada’s Premier Polar Bear Adventure is our classic expedition, with wildlife safaris in our custom Polar Rovers. Stay in the polar bear’s domain around the clock on our Tundra Lodge trips. The Ultimate Churchill Adventure includes a helicopter tour to a vacant polar bear den. Photo departures feature expert guidance from your photographer Expedition Leader. And every Churchill polar bear trip includes a sled dog ride. Our small groups are integral to your superior polar bear experience. While our Polar Rovers accommodate up to 30, we travel with just 14-16 guests, guided by an Expedition Leader and a local driver/guide—a ratio that gives you a richer interpretive experience and more personal attention. Learn from professional naturalist guides whose knowledge and experience are second to none. Our Expedition Leaders are passionate about the Canadian Arctic, from its wildlife and Indigenous peoples to contemporary concerns about climate change. Get to and from Churchill on our chartered flights from Winnipeg—we skip security and delays and head straight to the tundra to look for bears. At the start and end of your trip, you’ll stay at the historic Fort Garry Hotel in downtown Winnipeg, built by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway in 1913. While wonder and awe are what you come for, your presence also matters to the polar bears’ fate. You’ll gain a profound awareness of what is at stake in a rapidly warming Arctic, and you provide vital support to the small town of Churchill—the Polar Bear Capital of the World and the epicenter of conservation travel focused on protecting them. When you go to Churchill with Nat Hab, you won’t go home the same! I hope to see you out there,

Ben Bressler Explorer, Founder, President P.S. Call 800-543-8917, visit nathab.com/polarbears24, or contact your travel advisor to reserve your space on a polar bear expedition with us this coming fall.

THE POLAR BEARS OF CHURCHILL & THE CANADIAN NORTH There's no better place on the planet than Churchill, Manitoba, to see polar bears in their There's no better place to see polar bears in their natural habitat than natural habitat. Located on the western shore of Hudson Bay at the nexus of three biomes— Churchill, Manitoba, which lies at the heart of the annual fall polar marine, tundra and boreal forest—Churchill lies at the heart of the annual fall polar bear bear migration route. And our itineraries, crafted with decades of migration route. Polar bears congregate here in October and November, waiting for the sea experience, maximize your chances to see them while immersing you ice to form and their winter seal-hunting season to begin. Other Arctic wildlife thrives in the in northern culture. Every trip includes bear-viewing from our Polar Churchill region, too, including Arctic fox, Arctic hare, snowy owl and ptarmigan. Rovers and a sled dog ride through the forest—and some itineraries feature a stay among the bears at the Tundra Lodge, or an aerial view by helicopter, with a landing to explore a vacant polar bear den!

Exclusively with Nat Hab...

HUDSON BAY

OUR PRIVATE CHARTERED AIRCRAFT

To maximize our time with polar bears, we don't waste time dealing with airline schedules and airport security screenings—we charter our own plane to fly you directly from Winnipeg to Churchill.

Churchill Polar Bear Denning Area

Tundra Lodge Polar Bear Habitat

MANITOBA STAY IN HISTORIC WINNIPEG

Once a fur-trading post and railway boomtown, Manitoba’s vibrant capital on the eastern edge of Canada’s vast prairie is the cultural and commercial center of the province. Stay in the heart of it at the historic Fort Garry Hotel. HELICOPTER FLIGHT

CHARTERED FLIGHT

ADD call-to-action: 800-543-8917 • nathab.com/polarbears24

Winnipeg 2

Call 800-543-8917, visit nathab.com/polarbears24 or contact your travel advisor to learn more

POLAR ROVER

CHURCHILL

This remote town on Hudson Bay is globally renowned as the Polar Bear Capital of the World. Each fall, hundreds of bears migrate to the area to await freeze-up and the start of seal-hunting season. © D Herron

CHURCHILL WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA

This controlled zone was established to protect polar bear denning habitat. Importantly, Nat Hab is a permit holder for this restricted area where the best polar bear viewing takes place. © P Endres

PRIVATE TUNDRA LODGE

Set seasonally on the tundra near the edge of Hudson Bay, with round-the-clock proximity to polar bears, the Tundra Lodge offers the most exclusive setting for bear viewing in the Churchill region.

DOG SLEDDING

Every polar bear journey includes a dog sledding adventure with famed Churchill musher Dave Daley, founder of the Hudson Bay Quest race. Meet Dave and his dogs, then ride behind the team through the boreal forest. © D Raiti

PRIVATE AURORA VIEWING LOCATIONS

CANADA

Look for the northern lights from the comfort of a private heated viewing spot away from the lights of Churchill—our exclusive settings give you an unimpeded view. © A de Vries 3

Polar bears, Churchill, Manitoba Photo by Nat Hab traveler Alan Jones

CHURCHILL, MANITOBA THE POLAR BEAR CAPITAL OF THE WORLD

Set on the western edge of Hudson Bay just below the Arctic Circle, tiny Churchill— population 900—is one of Canada’s most remote towns, inaccessible by road. Each autumn, several hundred polar bears roam the tundra around Churchill, whose location is key to their annual migration: Hudson Bay begins to freeze here first, drawing bears as they wait for the sea ice to form their winter seal-hunting platform. Hardy people have lived among them for centuries, and Churchill’s heritage is shaped by its Inuit, Métis, Dene, Chipewyan and Cree cultures—a presence that long predates European contact in the 17th century. In 1717, the Hudson's Bay Company established the first permanent settlement, a fur trading post on the Churchill River. In 1929, a port was built, linked by a rail line, to move grain from Manitoba’s prairies. Today, Churchill’s economy relies heavily on tourism that revolves around its most famous residents, as visitors flock to see polar bears in October and November—and no one offers a better encounter with them, and with the people of Churchill, than Nat Hab.

Call 800-543-8917, visit nathab.com/polarbears24 or contact your travel advisor to learn more

NAT HAB’S EXPERT GUIDES

ENHANCE YOUR ADVENTURE When you come to see polar bears in the wild, you’re likely fulfilling a oncein-a-lifetime dream. So, shouldn’t you travel with a guide who can help create the richest and most meaningful experience? That’s where our Expedition Leaders come in. They are Canadian naturalists, many with a strong personal connection to Churchill, who are experts in natural history—not just about every facet of polar bear biology and behavior, but other northern wildlife and flora, polar ecosystems, and the dramatic impact of climate change on the Arctic. They’re also well-versed in Churchill’s cultural history, enlightening you as they intertwine science and ecology with the region’s important human heritage. With access to resources from WWF scientists, who play an integral role in promoting polar bear conservation, our guides provide a superlative education for our guests—and they care about you personally, too.

Call 800-543-8917, visit nathab.com/polarbears24 or contact your travel advisor to learn more

Nat Hab guide and traveler, Churchill, Manitoba Photo by Nat Hab Expedition Leader Moira Le Patourel

SMALL GROUPS MAKE A

BIG DIFFERENCE Unlike other Churchill polar bear tours, we cap our groups at just 16 guests, ensuring a more personalized and comfortable experience. Our Polar Rover vehicles are built to hold 30 or more, but we never fill them full—each guest gets a window seat and plenty of room to angle for photographs without bumping into others. In a small group, you get uninterrupted time with our Expedition Leader, so you can ask all your questions and gain more insight into your experience with polar bears and Arctic nature. We’re able to offer intimate visits with local Churchill residents who share their stories and cultural heritage with us. You’ll also get to know your fellow travelers better, building bonds around your shared love of wildlife and commitment to conservation. Come with us to discover the difference a small group makes!

Call 800-543-8917, visit nathab.com/polarbears24 or contact your travel advisor to learn more

Polar bear and Polar Rover, Churchill, Manitoba Photo by Nat Hab traveler Jeremy Covert

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Polar bears and Polar Rover, Churchill, Manitoba Photo by Nat Hab traveler Colin McNulty

OUR CUSTOM POLAR ROVERS

ELEVATE YOUR EXPERIENCE

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SAFELY OBSERVE BEARS Large rear viewing platforms allow us to watch polar bears in the elements. They sometimes even lift their paws onto the sides to check us out!

STAY WARM ON BOARD Each Polar Rover features an interior heating system designed to keep the entire vehicle at a comfortable temperature as we open and close the windows and doors for wildlife viewing.

SEE BEARS DIRECTLY BELOW See-through steel mesh decking on the outside platform allows us to come within inches of bears if they wander beneath—a feature of our vehicles alone.

CONVENIENT FACILITIES No smelly drop bucket that needs emptying—we have installed flush toilets on board to ensure your comfort when you need to heed nature’s call.

RIDE HIGH OVER THE TUNDRA Huge 6-foot tundra tires lift us safely above the bears while providing a comfortable ride over the uneven tundra terrain.

AN UNIMPEDED VIEW Oversized windows slide downward, allowing ample access for photography and polar bear viewing from the vehicle’s heated interior.

PLENTY OF PERSONAL SPACE Our vehicles are designed to hold 30 or more, but for comfort, we limit our groups to approximately 16. All guests get their own window seat and room to spread out.

A COMFORTABLE JOURNEY Our custom-designed suspension system (leaf spring front with walking beam rear) enhances the glide of our vehicle and provides a gentler, smoother ride.

SPEED WHEN WE NEED IT Polar Rovers are powered by 240 H.P. DT466 International engines, permitting a top speed of 35 miles per hour, when we need to cover ground.

LEARN MORE WITH TWO GUIDES Our trips include both a professional Nat Hab naturalist Expedition Leader and a highly experienced driver/guide, by your side to interpret every wildlife encounter.

CLOSE COMMUNICATION Our dual radio system keeps our drivers in constant contact with our Rover base and other drivers while our Expedition Leaders maintain contact with other guides and our Churchill office—facilitating the safest and best polar bear viewing. GET CLOSER TO BEARS An angled front windshield—exclusive to our vehicles—allows you to peer forward for closer viewing when the action is right in front of us.

Learn More: nathab.com/rover

Polar bear and Tundra Lodge, Churchill, Manitoba Photo by Nat Hab staff member Emily Goodheart

STAY AMONG WILD

POLAR BEARS

AT THE TUNDRA LODGE Located on the subarctic plain along Hudson Bay outside Churchill, Manitoba, the world-famous Tundra Lodge is a one-of-a-kind hotel stationed in an area of high polar bear density. Each of its 32 rooms is a single compartment similar to sleeping quarters on a train, with either an upper or lower berth. With six shared toilets and four showers, as well as a lounge area for viewing bears and a dining car with sliding windows for easy photography access, the Tundra Lodge offers an immersive Arctic wilderness experience without sacrificing comfort. Outdoor viewing platforms facilitate close-up polar bear observation and photography opportunities, as well as aurora watching when the northern lights are visible. There’s no opportunity anywhere else that affords this chance to be in prime polar bear habitat around the clock!

Learn More: nathab.com/tundra-lodge

Northern lights and private cabin, Churchill, Manitoba Photo by Nat Hab Expedition Leader Lianne Thompson

LOOK FOR THE NORTHERN LIGHTS FROM OUR PRIVATE VIEWING LOCATIONS

When skies are clear over Churchill, the odds are good to see the northern lights. Churchill sits directly beneath the auroral oval, the electromagnetic band that circles the polar region where northern lights activity is strongest. This mystical phenomenon in the dark night sky is a highlight for those who are fortunate enough to observe it on a visit to Churchill. While the aurora can be elusive during polar bear season, since autumn skies are often overcast, we maximize your chances to view the northern lights at private locations well outside town, away from the glow of artificial light. And we make sure you stay warm and cozy, with hot drinks to sip as we wait for the aurora’s appearance.

Call 800-543-8917, visit nathab.com/polarbears24 or contact your travel advisor to learn more

CANADA’S

PREMIER POLAR BEAR ADVENTURE The World’s Most Coveted Small-Group Polar Bear Expedition When you’re standing on the outdoor platform of our Polar Rover, the chill Arctic air feels invigorating. But not as much as the sight of the huge polar bear ambling toward us. Sometimes they are silhouetted against the horizon, slowly moving

Polar bear and Polar Rover, Churchill, Manitoba. Photo by Nat Hab Expedition Leader Lianne Thompson.

THE MOST INTIMATE POLAR BEAR ENCOUNTERS In the smallest groups available—capped at just 16 guests— meet the world’s greatest concentration of polar bears as they gather to wait for freeze-up on Hudson Bay

shadows on the vast expanse of tundra. Other times, we’ll see a mother with cubs up close...or a lone male may wander directly below us! Safely elevated, you’re nonetheless just feet away as you look down on his shaggy, cream-colored bulk. Noticing us, he stops, sniffs and turns his face our way, curious. We grin with delight. The big bear rises on his haunches to peer at us more deliberately. We watch in wonder. Minutes go by, perhaps an hour, who knows? Out here among the bears, time stands still. Join us for one of nature’s most wondrous wildlife encounters—no one makes it more exhilarating than Nat Hab! 16 Call 800-543-8917 or your travel advisor

SUPERLATIVE TUNDRA VEHICLES GET YOU CLOSER The newest fleet of technologically advanced Polar Rovers, with huge windows and a see-through steel outdoor viewing deck, get you closest to the bears SEARCH FOR THE AURORA ON THE TUNDRA AT NIGHT An exclusive tundra excursion after dark provides a unique perspective, including the chance, on a clear night, to view northern lights away from town

Day 1: Winnipeg, Manitoba Day 2: Winnipeg / Private Chartered Flight to Churchill Days 3 & 4: Polar Bear Viewing Day 5: Exploring Churchill / Evening on the Tundra Day 6: Churchill—Dog Sledding / Private Chartered Flight to Winnipeg Day 7: Winnipeg / Depart Extensions: Extra Day in Winnipeg, Northern Tundra Helicopter Adventure 6 or 7 Days / Oct & Nov 2024 Price: $7795-$8595 Internal Airfare: $1297 Limited to 16 Travelers

Photo Departures Available Make It Private

7-day itinerary shown. Please consult our website for the 6-day itinerary. Departure dates: See page 36 or visit nathab.com/premier Hudson Bay Churchill

MANITOBA

Winnipeg

Polar Bear Habitat

NAT HAB’S AURORA EXPERIENCE ON THE TUNDRA Spend an evening under the stars—and maybe the northern lights! Visit the tundra aboard our Polar Rover, with dinner served aboard and possible nighttime polar bear sightings. If skies are clear, they might reveal one of nature’s most thrilling spectacles: the aurora borealis, which we view away from the lights of town. Though we can never predict if and how it will appear, it often begins as a pale glow that becomes a shimmering curtain of color— usually green, but sometimes red or even violet.

Learn More: nathab.com/polar-bears 17

ULTIMATE CHURCHILL ADVENTURE A Total Northern Immersion! Scout for Bears, Go Dog Sledding & Helicopter in to a Polar Bear Den This expedition offers our most comprehensive encounter with the world of the polar bear and the Canadian North. Heated Polar Rovers take us onto the tundra in search of bears, and we watch them roam, play and interact, sometimes

Polar bears, Churchill, Manitoba. Photo by Nat Hab Expedition Leader Lianne Thompson.

EXPLORE BY POLAR ROVER, HELICOPTER & DOG SLED Encounter the northern wilds by Polar Rover tundra vehicle, aerial flightseeing, and classic dog team on Churchill’s most comprehensive polar bear adventure!

entertaining us at close range through large picture windows or from our thrilling perch on the outdoor viewing platform. But this epic adventure doesn’t end there: we also helicopter in to a vacant polar bear den, take an authentic dog sled ride through the boreal forest, and explore the historic town of Churchill, enjoying cultural activities with local residents as we learn about life on the Arctic frontier. When night falls, watch for the northern lights—though never guaranteed, the mystical aurora is as frequent and vivid in Churchill as any place on Earth. “Ultimate Churchill” is the ultimate North! 18 Call 800-543-8917 or your travel advisor

THE BEST BEAR-VIEWING VEHICLES Our custom-built Polar Rovers are the most advanced tundra expedition vehicles, safely providing the closest and most exhilarating polar bear encounters SEARCH FOR THE NORTHERN LIGHTS IN COMFORT Head outside town into total darkness to look for the aurora borealis from heated Aurora Domes offering a 360° view on the night sky

Hudson Bay Churchill

MANITOBA

Denning Area

Polar Bear Habitat

Day 1: Winnipeg, Manitoba Day 2: Winnipeg / Private Chartered Flight to Churchill—Evening on the Tundra Day 3: Helicopter Tour / Dog Sledding / Cultural Encounters Day 4: Polar Bear Viewing Day 5: Polar Bear Viewing / Aurora Domes Day 6: Churchill / Private Chartered Flight to Winnipeg Day 7: Winnipeg / Depart Extension: Extra Day in Winnipeg 7 Days / Oct & Nov 2024 Price: $10495 Internal Airfare: $1297 Limited to 15 Travelers

Make It Private

Departure dates: See page 36 or visit nathab.com/ultimate

Winnipeg

Visit nathab.com for trip dates & details 19

TUNDRA LODGE & CHURCHILL HIGHLIGHTS Stay Among the Bears on the Tundra & in the Northern Frontier Town of Churchill Looking for a polar bear adventure that combines the best of both worlds? This it it! Spend two nights at our exclusive Tundra Lodge, a custom-designed hotel positioned on the tundra each season in an area of high bear activity. Relish

Tundra Lodge, Churchill, Manitoba. Photo by Nat Hab staff member Alexis Campbell.

STAY AMONG WILD POLAR BEARS AT THE TUNDRA LODGE Spend two nights at the world-famous Tundra Lodge, placed near the shore of Hudson Bay each season where polar bear density is highest—then return to the hub of activity in Churchill

unparalleled proximity to polar bears, in total seclusion—then add two nights in historic Churchill to enjoy cultural activities and a chance to meet the hardy locals who call this subarctic outpost home. Search for polar bears, Arctic fox, Arctic hare and ptarmigan during Polar Rover excursions on the tundra, enjoy close-up polar bear viewing from the Tundra Lodge, learn about Churchill’s colorful past on a comprehensive tour of the town, and fly through the forest on an exhilarating dog sled ride behind a team of working huskies. This multifaceted northern adventure truly does it all! 20 Call 800-543-8917 or your travel advisor

EXPERIENCE AUTHENTIC NORTHERN CULTURE Explore the subarctic frontier town and environs of Churchill, once a Hudson's Bay Company fur trading post, and go dog sledding with a renowned local musher TAKE AN ARCTIC SAFARI IN SEARCH OF BEARS & OTHER WILDLIFE From the Tundra Lodge, head out onto the tundra in our custom Polar Rovers, designed to facilitate the closest possible encounters with polar bears

Hudson Bay Churchill

Tundra Lodge

Day 1: Winnipeg, Manitoba Day 2: Winnipeg / Private Chartered Flight to Churchill / Tundra Lodge Day 3: Tundra Lodge—Polar Bear Viewing Day 4: Polar Bear Viewing / Churchill Day 5: Exploring Churchill & Environs Day 6: Dog Sledding / Private Chartered Flight to Winnipeg Day 7: Winnipeg / Depart Extensions: Extra Day in Winnipeg, Northern Tundra Helicopter Adventure 7 Days / Oct & Nov 2024 Price: $10495 Internal Airfare: $1297 Limited to 29 Travelers

MANITOBA

Departure dates: See page 36 or visit nathab.com/tundra-town

Winnipeg

Visit nathab.com for trip dates & details

TUNDRA LODGE ADVENTURE Stay on the Tundra Among the Bears in the World's Most Remarkable Hotel This is simply the most extraordinary polar bear experience available! Stay at the Tundra Lodge, set seasonally on the tundra near the edge of Hudson Bay, with round-the-clock proximity to polar bears. For wildlife photographers, no

Tundra Lodge, Churchill, Manitoba. Photo by Nat Hab traveler Alec Komarnitsky

BE WITH POLAR BEARS AROUND THE CLOCK Stay at one of the world’s truly unique lodges, designed for polar bear observation and placed each season near the shore of Hudson Bay in the bears’ wild habitat

place offers a better spot for coveted close-up shots. As dusk descends, remain in the domain of the polar bear while the sunset lingers on the landscape. Safe inside the warm confines of the lodge, enjoy surprising comfort in these austere environs. This custom "train" of connected lounge car, dining car and sleeping compartments is built on wheels, allowing us to station it for optimal polar bear viewing each season. Daily Polar Rover excursions take us farther afield in search of bears and other northern wildlife. There’s no more immersive encounter with the King of the Arctic's realm. 22 Call 800-543-8917 or your travel advisor

SCOUT FOR BEARS FROM CUSTOM POLAR ROVERS Look for polar bears beyond the lodge aboard our custom Polar Rover vehicles, with steel-mesh outdoor viewing platforms for the closest encounters SEARCH FOR ARCTIC WILDLIFE ON A TUNDRA SAFARI From Arctic fox and Arctic hare and to snowy owl and willow ptarmigan, look for northern wildlife that thrives along Hudson Bay in the polar bear's realm

Hudson Bay Churchill

MANITOBA

Day 1: Winnipeg, Manitoba Day 2: Winnipeg / Private Chartered Flight to Churchill / Tundra Lodge Day 3 & 4: Tundra Lodge—Polar Bear Viewing Day 5: Churchill—Dog Sledding / Private Chartered Flight to Winnipeg Day 6: Winnipeg / Depart Extensions: Extra Day in Winnipeg, Northern Tundra Helicopter Adventure

Tundra Lodge 6 Days / Oct & Nov 2024 Price: $12895 (+air) Internal Airfare: $1297 Limited to 29 Travelers

Photo Departures Available

Special Photography Departure: 7 Days, $13795 Departure dates: See page 36 or visit nathab.com/lodge

Winnipeg

Visit nathab.com for trip dates & details 23

GO DOG SLEDDING WITH CHURCHILL'S TOP MUSHER

On every polar bear adventure, Nat Hab travelers get to experience a distinctly northern pursuit: a brisk ride behind a team of energetic huskies. Our host is Churchill native Dave Daley, who has been mushing dogs here since the late 1990s. Dave grew up enamored with his grandfather’s two Samoyeds, hooking them up to his small sled as a boy. He went on to race his own dog team, then founded Wapusk Adventures in 2001 to share his love of dog sledding with Churchill visitors. Guests are invited to come out to the kennel, meet the team, learn about the history of dog mushing, then hop into a sled for a bracing ride through the boreal forest. Earlyseason visitors don’t miss out: if snowfall is low, Dave’s dogs pull a wheeled cart. Wapusk Adventures is also an award-winning long-distance racing kennel. Dave founded the famous Hudson Bay Quest, a 200-mile race over the wilds of northern Manitoba, often in severe winter weather conditions. Of Metis heritage, Dave has been recognized for Indigenous tourism leadership, encouraging young people from Indigenous backgrounds to discover the age-old northern tradition of dog sledding.

Call 800-543-8917, visit nathab.com/polarbears24 or contact your travel advisor to learn more

WE LOVE CHURCHILL!

PARTNERING WITH THE COMMUNITY

Local communities are central to Nat Hab’s mission of Conservation through Exploration. The people of Churchill are not only essential to conserving polar bears, they are also dear to our hearts. As they have graciously hosted our guests and staff for more than 35 years, we’ve built a mutually beneficial relationship around the shared goal of protecting their environment, wildlife and cultures. Nat Hab partners with town leaders to support Churchill residents, including making meals for the community; providing fresh produce, milk and snacks for the school breakfast program; contributing leftover groceries from meals served aboard our Polar Rovers; and donating furniture and housewares. Since Churchill does not have a recycling program, we’ve taken responsibility for diverting the trash and recycling that result from our trip operations, shipping 3,000 pounds of recyclable materials to Winnipeg from our 2023 polar bear season alone. And the economic activity we generate through our threeseason sustainable tourism programs supports local enterprises in Churchill, including Indigenous-owned businesses and at least two local presenters for each group.

(Above, left): Wapusk Adventures' dog sledding team. (Above, right): Nat Hab's Churchill Operations team. (Right): Churchill residents Dave Daley and Katie De Muelles proudly wearing their traditional Metis clothing.

Polar bear, Churchill, Manitoba Photo by Nat Hab Expedition Leader Eddy Savage

SUPPORT ARCTIC CONSERVATION

WITH NAT HAB & WWF With every increment of warming the planet undergoes, the polar bear’s future becomes more precarious. And it’s not just this icon of the Arctic that’s at risk: the fate of all nature depends on what we do now to protect it. Since our founding in 1985, Nat Hab has become a global leader in sustainable tourism, pioneering 100% carbon-neutral travel, making major strides in waste reduction, and working with local communities and vendors to enhance and expand eco-conscious practices. Since 2003, we have partnered with World Wildlife Fund to promote conservation travel, which helps protect nature and wildlife while benefiting local people—like our friends in Churchill. When you travel with us, you join us as a force for positive change!

EFFECTS OF

CLIMATE CHANGE

ON POLAR BEARS

The loss of sea ice habitat from climate change is the biggest threat to the survival of polar bears.* The Arctic is heating up faster than anywhere else on the planet, shrinking the sea ice cover by 14% per decade. Since the U.S. government started taking measurements in 1979, Arctic sea ice has declined by more than 772,000 square miles. The September 2023 sea ice minimum extent was the sixth lowest in the nearly 45-year satellite record. The years 2007 to 2023 had the lowest 17 sea ice extents in the satellite record. FEWER OPPORTUNITIES TO FEED Polar bears rely on sea ice to hunt seals, rest, breed, and store energy for the summer and autumn when food can be scarce. Sea ice now melts earlier in the late spring and early summer and forms later in the autumn in the bears' southern range, including Hudson Bay and James Bay in Canada. As the bears spend longer periods without food, their health declines. For every week the ice on Hudson Bay melts earlier in the spring, bears come ashore roughly 22 pounds lighter and in poorer condition. FEWER CUBS Hungry polar bears may suffer from malnutrition. In extreme cases they may face starvation—this is especially true for females with cubs. Unhealthy bears can lead to lower reproduction rates and ultimately extinction in some locations. Scientists have found the main cause of death for cubs to be either lack of food or lack of fat on nursing mothers. HABITAT FRAGMENTATION Climate change is causing sea ice loss, resulting in more habitat fragmentation, which is also leading to more human-bear conflict as polar bears come into communities looking for food.

* Other concerns for polar bears include human-polar bear conflict, toxic pollution, and direct impacts from industrial development, such as disturbance of dens or oil spills. Potential overhunting of some subpopulations may also pose a problem.

WHAT WWF IS DOING TO PROTECT POLAR BEARS

REDUCING HUMAN-BEAR CONFLICT As climate change forces polar bears to spend more time onshore, they have more contact with Arctic communities, where interactions can end badly for humans and bears alike. In Russia, Alaska, Greenland, and Canada, WWF supports efforts to protect people and polar bears through the design of specialized bearresistant steel food containers and electric fences to separate bears from dog teams. WWF also supports polar bear patrols to deter bears before they enter northern communities and conducts workshops for people to share their experiences and successes in keeping the peace between people and bears. TOURISM AS AN ALTERNATIVE Western Hudson Bay polar bears come ashore every summer and make their way to the tundra surrounding Churchill, Manitoba in the early fall. There, hundreds of bears gather, waiting for the bay to freeze so they can return to hunting. For years, this event created natural human-bear conflict, but through the formation of a controlled tourism industry to view and photograph the bears, Churchillians have become outspoken supporters of the protection of their bears. Through its substantial reach worldwide, WWF contributes annually to the promotion of this win-win tourism industry. Now, Churchill has become the “Polar Bear Capital of the World,” and global travelers who visit return home as ambassadors for the protection of polar bears and advocates for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. TECHNOLOGY TO MONITOR POPULATIONS To implement effective polar bear conservation interventions, scientists need to know more about these animals. In addition to supporting current work by scientists to monitor the conditions and movement of polar bears and understand the impact that climate change and Arctic industry are having on them, WWF and others are working to promote the development of innovative technology that will make polar bear research more cost-effective, less invasive, and deliver more useful data.

REDUCING INDUSTRIAL IMPACTS WWF's goal is to ensure that wherever industrial development takes place, it is sustainable and minimizes impact on wildlife populations and ecosystems. WWF provides technical expertise on oil spill prevention and response, advocates for the highest development standards through national and international venues, and collaborates with scientists, conservationists and local communities to oppose oil and gas development in areas where ecological value is far too great to risk exposure to spills. ADDRESSING IMPACTS OF INCREASED SHIPPING IN THE BERING STRAIT The 58-mile-wide Bering Strait between Alaska and Russia is one of the Arctic’s most biologically productive environments and a vital migratory corridor. With the decline of summer sea ice, the increase in Arctic industrialization and shipping traffic poses a serious threat to the ecology of the Bering Strait and its inhabitants. WWF-US, along with other academic and NGO partners, published Recommended Shipping Measures that include the expansions of e-navigation and technology, the establishment of areas to be avoided surrounding the Diomede Islands, region-specific industry practices to minimize adverse impacts and risks, and the enhancement of domestic and bilateral emergency prevention and response capabilities. We must take the opportunity now to make Arctic shipping safer to protect this maritime frontier before it is too late. PROTECTING IMPORTANT POLAR BEAR DENNING HABITAT As climate change melts and fragments sea ice across the Arctic, female polar bears are increasingly making their dens on land. Vital terrestrial denning habitats—as well as movement corridors, seasonal feeding areas, and key resting areas during the ice-free period—are disappearing, under threat from climate change and human and industrial influence, such as new oil and gas exploration and drilling. These activities not only compound the climate crisis but can disturb or even crush polar bears in their dens. Along with protecting polar bears internationally, WWF is working to ensure that places like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge are protected to secure the survival of America’s polar bears.

Polar bears, Churchill, Manitoba Photo by Nat Hab Expedition Leader Jackie Weston

POLAR BEAR FACTS The largest bear in the world and the Arctic's top predator, polar bears are a powerful symbol of the North. The polar bear's Latin name, Ursus maritimus, means "sea bear." It's an apt name for this majestic marine mammal, which spends much of its life in, around or on the ocean–predominantly on the sea ice, which is decreasing. The survival and protection of the polar bear's habitat are urgent issues for WWF, Nat Hab and the people of Churchill.

POLAR BEAR POPULATION Approximately 22,000–25,000 polar bears remain on the planet, distributed among 19 subpopulations; 60% of them live in Canada.

POLAR BEAR MATING When polar bears mate, which is usually in the springtime, the female delays implantation of the egg until just before denning in the late fall or early winter. This allows her to remain active and gain fat during prime seal hunting season in the spring.

TINY AT BIRTH A polar bear cub weigns only one and a half pounds at birth, about as much as a guinea pig.

POLAR BEAR EVOLUTION Polar bears are the newest bear species, having evolved from brown bears between 300,000 and 3 million years ago. This may seem like a long time in human years, but it's actually very recent for an animal that has diverged so much in appearance and behavior from its grizzly cousins.

THE LARGEST BEARS EVER RECORDED Large male polar bears routinely reach 8-10 feet tall while standing on their hind legs and weigh more than 1,500 pounds. While the largest brown bears ever recorded weighed between 1,600 and 1,900 pounds, the largest male polar bear weighed in at around 2,200 pounds and reached over 12 feet tall!

POLAR BEARS & CLIMATE CHANGE

HARDY OUTERWEAR

Polar bears rely heavily on sea ice for traveling, hunting, resting and mating. But because of increasing loss of their sea ice habitat resulting from climate change, polar bears were listed as a threatened species in the U.S. under the Endangered Species Act in May 2008.

Polar bears have a thick layer of body fat and a water-repellent coat that insulates them from the cold air and frigid water.

SPECIAL FUR COAT Polar bears’ hairs are actually translucent conductors of heat that draw sunlight to their black skin below.

A NOSE FOR HUNTING Polar bears can smell a seal from more than half a mile away and through 3 feet of sea ice.

APEX PREDATORS Requiring large amounts of fat to survive, polar bears spend over 50% of their time hunting for blubber-rich ringed and bearded seals.

WORLD-CLASS SWIMMERS Polar bears are talented swimmers. With their powerful front paws and hind legs that act like a rudder, as well as a hydro-dynamic nose and neck, they can swim up to 6 miles per hour for 100 miles or more.

VERY SPEEDY ANIMALS Polar bears can run up to 25 miles per hour.

Polar bear, Churchill, Manitoba Photo by Nat Hab Expedition Leader Garrett Fache

2024 POLAR BEAR TRAVEL DATES

Canada's Premier Polar Bear Adventure

Ultimate Churchill Adventure

6-DAY TRIPS ____________________________________________ Nov 6–11 Oct 26–31 Oct 18–23 WD Oct 5–10 Nov 13–18 Oct 27–Nov 1 Oct 18–23 Oct 7–12 Nov 13–18 WD Oct 29–Nov 3 Oct 20–25 Oct 11–16 Oct 30–Nov 4 Oct 21–26 Oct 14–19 Nov 1–6 Oct 23–28 Oct 15–20 Nov 2–7 Oct 24–29 Oct 17–22

7-DAY TRIPS ____________________________ Oct 12–18 Oct 30–Nov 5 Nov 12–18 Oct 24–30 Nov 5–11

7-DAY TRIPS ___________________________________________ Nov 7–13 Oct 31–Nov 6 Oct 21–27 Oct 5–11 Nov 8–14 Nov 1–7 Oct 22–28 Oct 6–12 Nov 8–14 CC Nov 2–8 P Oct 23–29 Oct 13–19 Nov 9–15 P Nov 2–8 Oct 25–31 Oct 14–20 Nov 9–15 CC Nov 3–9 P Oct 26–Nov 1 P Oct 15–21 Nov 10–16 P Nov 4–10 P Oct 26–Nov 1 Oct 16–22 Nov 11–17 WD Oct 27–Nov 2 P Nov 4–10 Oct 18–24 Nov 12–18 P Oct 28–Nov 3 P Nov 5–11 Oct 19–25 Nov 12–18 Nov 6–12 Oct 29–Nov 4 Oct 20–26

Tundra Lodge & Churchill Highlights 7-DAY TRIPS ___________________________ Oct 3–9 Oct 7–13 Nov 14–20 Oct 4–10 Oct 9–15 Nov 16–22 Oct 5–11 Oct 11–17

Tundra Lodge Adventure 6-DAY TRIPS ____________________________ Oct 13–18 Oct 25–30 Nov 7–13 P Oct 16–21 Oct 28–Nov 2 Nov 11–16 Oct 19–24 Oct 31–Nov 5 Oct 22–27 Nov 3–9 P

2025 POLAR BEAR TRAVEL DATES

Canada's Premier Polar Bear Adventure

Ultimate Churchill Adventure

6-DAY TRIPS____________________________________________ Oct 30–Nov 4 Oct 24–29 Oct 17–22 Oct 5–10 Nov 1–6 Oct 25–30 Oct 18–23 WD Oct 7–12 Nov 2–7 Oct 26–31 Oct 20–25 Oct 12–17 Nov 6–11 Oct 27–Nov 1 Oct 21–26 Oct 14–19 Nov 12–17 WD Oct 28–Nov 2 Oct 22–27 Oct 15–20 Oct 29–Nov 3 Oct 23–28 Oct 16–21

7-DAY TRIPS ___________________________ Oct 12–18 Oct 30–Nov 5 Nov 12–18 Oct 24–30 Nov 5–11

7-DAY TRIPS ____________________________________________ Nov 6–12 Oct 30–Nov 5 Oct 21–27 Oct 5–11 Nov 7–13 Oct 31–Nov 6 Oct 22–28 Oct 6–12 Nov 8–14 Nov 1–7 Oct 23–29 Oct 14–20 Nov 9–15 CC Nov 2–8 Oct 24–30 Oct 15–21 Nov 9–15 P Nov 2–8 P Oct 25–31 Oct 16–22 Nov 10–16 CC Nov 3–9 P Oct 26–Nov 1 P Oct 17–23 Nov 10–16 P Nov 4–10 Oct 27 Nov 2 P Oct 18–24 Nov 11–17 WD Oct 28–Nov 3 P Nov 4–10 P Oct 19–25 Nov 12–18 P Nov 5–11 Oct 29–Nov 4 Oct 20–26

Tundra Lodge & Churchill Highlights 7-DAY TRIPS ____________________________ Oct 3–9 Oct 7–13 Nov 14–20 Oct 4–10 Oct 9–15 Nov 16–22 Oct 5–11 Oct 11–17

Tundra Lodge Adventure 6-DAY TRIPS ___________________________ Oct 13–18 Oct 25–30 Nov 11–16 Oct 16–21 Oct 28–Nov 2 Oct 19–24 Oct 31–Nov 5 Oct 22–27 Nov 7–13 P

CC Climate Change Departure WD Women-Only Departure 2025 dates may change. Please consult our website.

P Special Photography Departure

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Each fall, I return to Churchill to marvel at the powerful presence of polar bears, strengthen our meaningful relationships with the local people, and witness our mission of conservation through exploration in action. I hope you’ll join us to support the protection of this iconic species and experience these wild wonders for yourself.

Hudson Bay, Churchill, Manitoba Photo by Nat Hab traveler Connie Markiewicz

Nat Hab has provided more than $6 million to World Wildlife Fund and will continue to give 1% of gross sales plus $174,000 annually through 2028 in support of WWF’s mission. WWF® and ©1986 Panda Symbol are owned by WWF. All rights reserved. Front cover: © G Delman. Back cover © E Rock

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