Fall 2024 Bear Tracker Update

The polar bears on our Bear Tracker were on the move this fall. Some were waiting for freeze-up on Hudson Bay, while pregnant females were in maternity dens, where they likely gave birth to one to three cubs in late December or early January. Learn about what these bears have been up to and the different choices they make as they follow the changing sea ice.

Arctic Ambassador - X34266

This mom has two yearlings in tow. She was first collared in southern Wapusk National Park close to the Nelson River, a common denning area. Though her age is unknown, she was 194.6 kg (429 lb) when collared last fall, which is a normal and healthy size for that time of year. This family has moved 178 km north since early October. They’re currently north of Owl River, and out on the ice. With two young cubs, the mother bear may have avoided moving too far north where many large males were hanging out. We look forward to following this new family’s upcoming hunting season!

Ares - X33910 

Ares had a nice long ice season! She has traveled over 2965 km around western Hudson Bay since being collared. She was able to stay out on the ice into August before arriving onshore in late August. That’s many weeks more than usual, a wonderful chance to fatten up for this young female with a now two-year-old in tow! Ares came back to land well north of Churchill where she’s spent the last couple of months not moving much. Recently, she’s started heading north up the coast toward a region of Nunavut where she has spent time in the past, and is making great time as she heads to the ice. She’ll only have this cub a few more months before it is weaned, so she has lots of lessons to impart and fast. We look forward to following her for another great year!

Betty White - X33570

Betty White is back! Now 13 years old and with two yearlings (just turned one year old) in tow, Betty spent the last couple of months just north of Churchill after enjoying a bit of extra time on the ice this summer. Over the past month or two, she’s continued far north up the coast and is now out on the ice. She was in great shape when researchers saw her this fall (the fattest collared female recorded at 254 kg or 560 lbs!) but she still must be ready for some seal blubber. We are so excited to watch this next chapter of Betty White’s journey.

Canada Goose - X33311

This 20-year-old female with one yearling in tow spent the summer well inland in Wapusk National Park in Manitoba, Canada. She may have been avoiding the large males that congregate along the coast in the summer months. In late October, she did something a little different than most. Generally, these polar bears head east, straight toward the coast, when the freeze-up season approaches. This bear, however, traveled northwest to meet up with the Churchill River and is following it up the coast. Following rivers tend to be a good way to travel, and this little family is now out on Hudson Bay. We look forward to following this experienced mom!

Opus - X19939

This 21-year-old female has two yearlings,  and hopefully they are more of a help to mom this winter than last! This bear is quite experienced and was at a healthy weight when collared (234 kg), so we expect she is a smart seal hunter. She spent the summer well within Wapusk National Park, possibly keeping her cubs away from the large males that tend to congregate on the coast. In early November she started heading northeast to the coast, maybe spurred on by darkening days and cooling temperatures. This family continued north along the west of Hudson Bay, just south of Cape Churchill. They’re now out on the ice, hunting seals and fattening up again.

Anuri- X19735

This now 25-year-old bear has one two-year-old and has traveled over 192 km since being collared this fall. The little family started their journey on the coast of Hudson Bay in Wapusk National Park and then moved north toward Cape Churchill near where the first real sea ice of the season often forms. This mom is experienced at her age, so she should know how to avoid the big males that also tend to like this hangout location. Her two-year-old will be learning all it can before being weaned this spring and hopefully helping mom out a bit!

Portia- X34218 

This is another female with a yearling who spent the summer inland, possibly avoiding the big boys on the coast. In late October/early November, Portia started heading northeast to the coast, possibly due to the cues of darker days and cooling temperatures. This family then made fast time heading north along the coast and made it to Cape Churchill just a couple of weeks later. No doubt Portia dodged some obstacles to get her and her cub in good position to get on the sea ice as soon as possible. We look forward to following this small family over the next year!

Vicky - X33881

After an extra long hunting season on Hudson Bay, Vicky came back to shore in Wapsuk National Park in early August. She had zig-zagged all over the western part of the bay last winter and spring, hunting seals and fattening up in anticipation of heading into a den this fall. Vicky seems to be pregnant and fatter is better for any polar bear, but especially moms! It looks like she may have entered a den in late October, so right now she should be conserving energy and resting peacefully. She has likely given birth to 1-3 cubs and will emerge again sometime in late February or early March to head back to hunt seals again. This will add up to 6-7 months of fasting, so those extra weeks Vicky had on the ice this summer should sure help! We’ll hope to spot her again this spring or summer, and wish her well with her new cub(s).

Yvette - X17082

This 27-year-old female had a nice long hunting season this past summer, not being forced back onto land until later in August. It’s unclear if she had to swim, but she may have had a short one to get home. After arriving on land she didn’t move much, maybe resting up in her old age. She was able to hunker down close to the coast, which made it easy for her to get back on the sea ice in early December and head out again to hunt. Less than four months on land isn’t too bad so hopefully she’s stayed in good shape! Once on the ice, she’s wasted no time in her travels that have already brought her well into the bay. Good luck hunting seals to this very experienced gal!