Written by Alain Lagacé
Going on a photographic mission to the Far North of Quebec and Labrador to meet the largest land carnivore on the planet is the mission of wildlife and nature photography enthusiasts.
The polar bear in this isolated Arctic region of North America has behavior similar to the grizzly bears of Alaska. In the fall during the migratory arctic char run, these polar bears concentrate in coastal rivers to catch fish. This behavior of the polar bear in catching fish has only been observed on the Labrador Peninsula and is very poorly documented.
Prepare your photo mission
To properly plan a wildlife observation trip, you must first of all know the behavior of the animals and particularly the time of year which is most favorable for observing them. Every fall, Arctic char leave the ocean to return to their birthplace to spawn. At the most intense moment of the migration, the Arctic char offer a fascinating spectacle of thousands of fish fighting against the current to go up the rivers.
Polar bears living near arctic char rivers gorge on fish during migration, also attracting black bears, wolves, eagles and other predators.
[The ultimate moment of this trip is when we see a polar bear 3 meters (9 feet) long, running at full speed, launching into the air, diving into a pool and coming out with a fish in the mouth. It is then that we understand the agility of this great predator and why it is at the top of the food chain.]
Know bear behavior
During the arctic char migration period, the bears are focused on fishing and their behavior is calmer than usual, which makes it easier to approach them on foot. The experienced guide who knows the behavior of polar bears takes you to the most popular sites so that you can photograph them up close. A 75-300mm zoom is all you need to capture stunning images of bears catching fish.
The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is perfectly adapted to its marine environment and its ability to catch fish is absolutely remarkable.
In the middle of the Arctic char spawning season, a large adult male polar bear who has good experience can catch and eat around twenty (20) Arctic char per day. A polar bear can eat up to 46 kg (100 lb) of food in one sitting, which is necessary for them to feed their body weight of 270 to 800 kg (600 – 1800 lb).
The ultimate moment of this photographic mission is when we see a polar bear 3 meters (9 feet) long, running at full speed, launching into the air, diving into a pool and coming out with a fish in the mouth. It is then that we understand the agility of this great predator and why it is at the top of the food chain.
This photographic mission is also the perfect opportunity to take exceptional shots of breathtaking coastal landscapes and mountains. On your way to the fishing polar bear observation sites, you can stop to photograph spectacular waterfalls, magnificent deep fjords and gigantic icebergs that drift along the wild coasts of Ungava and Labrador, while having unpredictable encounters with wildlife.
For those who find photography the reason to travel and showcase the unparalleled stark beauty of the Arctic, a photography mission to the Golden Peninsula is the experience of a lifetime.
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Alain Lagacé – alain@goldenpeninsulatours.com