2017 Wildlife Photo Contest

Species: Polar Bear - Ursa Maritimus | Location: Wapusk National Park Area, Hudson Bay, Canada

Taken during our first night at the Tundra Lodge on a Natural Habitat Adventure, November 6, 2016. The call went forth of Aurora on display. I found a quiet spot on one of the platforms, and noticed a polar bear asleep a little ways out from the lodge. I changed my location to permit alignment of the bear, the Northern Lights, and the Big Dipper. Although I have photographs of more spectacular Auroral displays from Iceland and the Northern US, I love the tranquility of this scene, with Ursa Major (the Big Dipper) above Ursa Maritimus (the polar bear), with the Aurora lighting the night sky. Polar bears have fascinated me since I did my thesis research in polar bear country on the Meta Incognita Peninsula, southern Baffin Island in 1979. The Natural Habitat Tundra Lodge trip was a long-awaited, much-anticipated major adventure as a relatively new retiree. Wonderful experience with the polar bears and other denizen of the north country, punctuated by Aurora on three out of the four nights we spent at the Tundra Lodge.

About The Photographer

Recently retired geologist. Early days part-time (semi-)professional wildlife and landscape photographer. Lived in Iceland for a year as a child (1968-69) and attended the University of Iceland for a year on a Fulbright Scholarship (1977-78). Good friends there, and I learned Icelandic during those years, so Iceland is a fairly frequent destination.