Where to See Polar Bears

If you’re into animals, there’s nothing quite like seeing a polar bear in the wild. Catch a glimpse of even a tiny tuft of that soft, creamy fur, and it’ll feel like you’ve stumbled upon the holy grail of wildlife experiences. That’s because seeing the world’s largest land predator in its natural habitat is no easy feat – especially with climate change slowly decreasing the size of their territory. In fact there are only a handful of habitable places in the Arctic where you can hope for such a sighting, and here are four of them:

Canada

WHERE? Churchill, Manitoba

Often dubbed the polar bear capital of the world, Churchill offers a good chance of spotting this carnivorous mammal. Of course there are no guarantees (it’s called wildlife for a reason), but most tour groups which embark through the wilderness on a tundra drive, or stay in a protected lodge along the bears’ migration route, have proven successful. For the best chances, visit during October and November, when the polar bears are free to navigate the pack ice on a seal hunt. While you’re here you can also try and spot the elusive white beluga whale, not to mention the Aurora Borealis in the winter months.

Greenland

WHERE? Off the north coast

Like all good predators, polar bears are nomadic creatures. But despite their wandering ways, they are beloved across Greenland – so much so that they even appear in this island-nation’s coat of arms. This type of existence does make them tricky to spot however. Tourists who get out to sea have been the luckiest; sailing along the coast of northeast and northwest Greenland you’re likely to spot a polar bear’s distinctive off-white fur against the icy landscape.

Norway

WHERE? Svalbard

Between May and September, during the months of the Midnight Sun, Svalbard is prime polar bear-spotting territory. About 3,000 polar bears are believed to live in this far-flung Norwegian outpost and, onboard a small vessel forging a path through the ice, visitors have reported seeing in excess of 20 bears in one trip. And even if you don’t see 20, you will get to experience one of the harshest, most fascinating landscapes on earth – complete with enchanting icy scenery, calving glaciers and crisp, snowy air.

Alaska, USA

WHERE? Kaktovik

Kaktovik is the only human-occupied spot in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. It feels it too – as you fly into the village you’ll observe a barren ice-filled landscape below, the white unbroken, save for a token smattering of buildings. The polar bears come here in the autumn to feast on hunted bowhead whales, whose remains are scattered across nearby Barter Island. It’s a contrasting sight to the other locations where you’re likely to spot them – instead of crossing huge glaciers, here they sleep lazily on sand spits and paddle along dark pebble beaches with their cubs in tow, just waiting for the drift ice to arrive. Up to 80 will dominate the village at any time, meaning the population here only just outnumbers them, 2.9:1.