Eat, Play, Swim & Sleep~

Sep26

This is what we saw polar bears doing, as they wait for the ice to freeze, so they can go hunt seals on Hudson Bay. Works for me. I love doing all of these things!

The cub is eating the spine with ribs attached of a mammal the bears killed and you can see the dark colored blood on the rocks from their kill site. There was also another critter here that mama and baby bear continuously growled at. Most likely another bear, but we never saw it hiding in the rocks.

Scientists disagree about whether Hudson Bay polar bears eat or hunt while they wait for the ice to freeze, but this cub has the blood on his paw to prove he does both!

We nearly missed this big bear swimming near our zodiac.

Here he is leaving the water.

And of course the play. We saw mamas and cubs spending lots of time playing.

Cubs practice hunting techniques with this play.

And, like all young creatures, they like to play!

It is so heartwarming to observe the strong bonds between patient mother and playful cub.

Polar bears are not white. They have black skin and hollow transparent fur that conducts heat down their fur like straws to be absorbed by their black skin. Their fur appears white because it reflects sunlight. Polar Bears are efficient solar heat generators, but this makes them uncomfortable in arctic summer weather.

They spend a lot of time taking siestas (and scratching) always near water for a cool dip.

Here is another wet bear. Please forgive and bear with me, as I break my own rule on posting too many photos! I couldn’t resist and I do appreciate your patience. We are home now and I won’t be posting more bear photos for a long while.

A different mother with a much bigger cub, that I shot from the zodiac on the bay. Cheers to you from the stunning bears of Hudson Bay~

226 thoughts on “Eat, Play, Swim & Sleep~”

  6. So this is really quite silly, but when I saw your first picture – I thought the polar bear was carrying a lobster. And I was amused, thinking how I too like lobster and was curious as to how she/he caught it. …and then I noticed all the blood and promptly realized it was probably ribs on an angle. Oh my! lol. 😂

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  7. I think I mentioned before. From the views, it looks you are watching them close. I am sure you are at the safe distance away. Watching them eat and play like that, I think one can feel being intimidated by such powerful creatures. Great captures and the narrative.

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    • Yes, I have telephoto, and always observe wildlife from a overly conservative safe distance. The shots aren’t quite as good as if I got closer, but it keeps the bears and myself safe. Thank you for caring my friend ❤

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  10. What a marvellous series of images, Cindy. I enjoyed them immensely.

    It’s also a lovely display of Mother-child relationships and how close the bond is between them.

    I admit to a little envy of what must have been a rather exciting trip seeing the bears in their natural habitat.

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  13. No need to apologize Cindy for too many pics of the polar bears. I loved them all and all the info. you have provided with it and such incredible images close up. How do you manage to get so close and get those shots like that? And then to be in a Zodiac out there in the wild with them in their natural habitat. How wonderfully exciting and amazing opportunities you have. Enjoy them all while you can. It is great to be able to have your son accompany you on all these trips too? And your husband too?

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    • You are very kind Joyce and much appreciated my friend and yes, hubby always is with me. He is my travel partner in crime and we go everywhere together, when one of the kids comes along, so much better. Hope all is well with you my friend ❤

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    • Thank you my friend. Your thoughtfulness means a lot to me. I hope you know how much I like you Charly, and how much I am rooting for you, always. We are all so much better than our demons. We just need to shrug them off to start to know. Trust me on this and take care of yourself my friend.

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      • I do really appreciate your comment. I´m trying taking myself good, mother is not doing to good, she told me to go today. I better leave the drink out and really concéntrate on what is truly is important. Although the drinking….. hard to leave, I just woke up and I´m trembling and is only almost 9 a.m here. So what do I go see here trembling? Is that gonna do anything to help my mother? Demons thant I créate for myself and eventually for the other people that truly love me. I do want to spend with her as much time and good times that is as long as she lasts. So I´ll have to take the pills to take out the trembling. I just told you quite a lot, although I do write it in my own blog, I just dumb and weird.
        You take care that is what is also important.

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        • Your mother wants to be with you especially if you are trembling. You are all that matters to her. I am glad you will be with her. Love is strong medicine Charly, help yourself to lots of it. You deserve it my friend and so does your mother. I am so sorry you are both going through all this pain. Take your pills my friend and keep talking. Talking takes courage which you have and brings us from despair towards light. I don’t know what program you are working, or if you are, but please my friend, go to an AA group, they are free and are filled with people who have been where you are now, and go see a doctor to help ease the shakes and withdrawal. Alcohol is too big of a demon for any mere mortal to tackle alone. But you can tackle it with help and your life will have hope again my friend. Trust me. Love to your mother and to you Charly. You are both in my prayers now daily.

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          • What takes my shakes is to first take 10 of those tranquilizer pills to stop the sweat and shakes but why I ask myself, I´m with “mommy” today, helping her move this to that place so and and so forth. I managed.
            She is my mother.
            And thank you a lot for the kind-wise words Cindy.

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  34. Unless you are tremendously exceptional at posing these wild animals the way you want, they are all candid shots. However, the next to the last picture looks like posed full body portraiture. Enjoy your photo egallery.

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    • Thank you! I usually save the best for last to reward people like you who look at them all. Polar Bears are regal looking animals and they do assume these almost studio directed postures.

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