We were safe in our Tundra Buggy and were thrilled when the bears would come over to check us out. They look very huggable but they haven't eaten in 5 months, so they could pose a real danger.
Don't they just look so cuddly.
Waiting for the bay to freeze over.
We saw two snowy owls during our 4 days on the Tundra.
No point standing around, why not have a nap.
The frosty willow branches make a lovely setting for this bear looking out towards the sea.
One of the few food sources available to the bears at this time of year is the kelp which can be found on the shores of the bay.
This behaviour is called 'Scenting' and allows one bear to get a sense of the other and decide if it is friend or foe.
We saw a lot of the bears engaging in sparring. At this time of year the males would play fight as they pass time and get ready for the sea ice. During mating season this behaviour will turn into real aggression and in some cases could be lethal.
Mother bear awaits her cub who is hiding in the willow branches.
An added bonus this year were some amazing Northern Lights. These went on for hours.
There isn't a lot for the bears to do while they wait for the bay to freeze. This bear is sitting on a frozen lake, which being fresh water, has frozen before the bay.
Bye!