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MANITOBA BEARS GOOD
NEWS
WINNIPEG, MANITOBA: Once
again, Manitoba's polar bears grace the cover of
National Geographic, with a stunning shot by
renowned international photographer Norbert Rosing,
on the February 2004 issue. The shot features two
male bears play-fighting, something they do
frequently in October and November while they await
the ice freeze along the Hudson Bay coastline near
Churchill, Manitoba.
Also in January, The
Washington Post selected polar bear viewing from a
tundra buggy in northern Manitoba as one of the top
10 hot international destinations for 2004. Who are
we to argue? The experience of watching these
majestic beasts in their white realm is like none
other on Earth. Manitoba was the only Canadian
destination selected for the top hot spot honor
along with such places as New Zealand and the
Bahamas.
Churchill's history and
bears also received major billing in the December
22 issue of Maclean's, Canada's biggest
newsmagazine, by the inimitable Will Ferguson, who
covers his tundra vehicle experience with insight
and humour. "Jackie's title makes me jumpy.
Monitor? I would really have preferred 'polar bear
defender' or 'polar bear fighter.'"
While the best polar bear
viewing takes place in October and November while
thousands of polar bears begin to congregate along
the Hudson Bay coastline, Manitoba's wildlife
viewing experiences are exceptional year-round.
During spring and fall migrations, birding is
spectacular in many parts of the province. Over the
first hot weekend in May, tens of thousands of
red-sided garter snakes emerge from limestone pits
near Narcisse. Every July and August, visitors
snorkel and kayak with thousands of beluga whales
in the Seal and Churchill Rivers. September is
prime elk and moose viewing in Riding Mountain
National Park. Less accessible but no less
spectacular are thousands of caribou migrating
along northern eskers.
The second edition of
Pelicans to Polar Bears: Watching Wildlife in
Manitoba, published by Heartland Associates, and
available through its website at http://www.hrtlandbooks.com
offers detailed advice on the top sites to see
polar bears as well as many other special Manitoba
creatures.
To get information on
wildlife viewing and other Manitoba experiences,
click on the Planning and Activity Chart tabs under
the Adventure Guide at http://www.travelmanitoba.com
or order all the guides by calling 1-800-665-0040,
Ext. IZ3.
It is often said books feed
the soul. We hope that our books will nourish
the
spirit as well, encouraging
exploration of some of North America's
fascinating places,
personalities and issues.
HeartLand
Associates
PO Box 103 RPO
Corydon
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Canada
R3M 3S7
phone: (204)
475-7720
fax: (204)
453-3615
hrtland@mts.net
Travel
Manitoba
Ph: 204-945-2414
csenecal@gov.mb.ca
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