Bears

Wapusk National Park is famous for its high concentration of polar bear maternity dens. However, few people know that these polar bears also share their turf with two other bear species: barren ground grizzly bears and black bears. This makes Wapusk the only park where it’s possible to see all three species of North American bears!

Wapusk National Park includes an important denning area for pregnant female polar bears (Ursus maritimus) who den over the winter and emerge the spring. Find out more about the iconic polar bears.

It was once thought that barren ground grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) were not present in Manitoba, but they have been observed in Wapusk since the mid-1990s. Find out more about barren ground grizzlies.

The smallest of the three species, the black bear (Ursus americanus), has also been observed in Wapusk. Typically, black bears inhabit forested areas, but they have been captured on remote cameras at camps out on the tundra. Find out more about black bears.

Safety in bear country

Remember: while bears may be beautiful creatures to watch, they are also large, highly unpredictable and can be extremely dangerous. Once you arrive in Churchill, you could have an unexpected encounter with a bear at anytime, anywhere. Please read the bear safety brochure.

Remote camera images