We are less than two months into our Bamsebu overwintering, so it was just a matter of time before we had our first polar bear encounter. What a few days it has been. We have seen two polar bears in 12 hours!
What elevates your heart rate, we ask? Is it running a marathon, eating too much chocolate, skiing 100km/hr down a black diamond ski run, watching Iron Man 2 or having a Polar Bear 6 feet away? Saturday night was defining for Sunniva. She tells:
It was so sudden! I opened the door and 3 seconds later – there she was! My heart was racing! I was on my way outside to close the thick wooden window shutters and turn of the Mission Link Satellite device. I made a few steps forward then went back to turn on the outside light. She appeared from my right where Ettra sleeps, though she was inside. She glanced at me and then pushed off her hind legs and ran down the hill and south towards the fjord. I am awake and alert, always. I hope! Before midnight on Saturday November 9th – I had never been close to a Polar Bear. I will never forget the sight of this massive, majestic, large white marine mammal that stood 6 feet away! I could feel her might!
You cannot help but think of other seconds defined as moments where you were vulnerable. It is inevitable here – we are outside a lot. There is gear, stock piles of wood, barrels of food, a small sauna, a large container of ice, snowmobiles and coolers. All of these are things a polar bear can hide behind. We have several goals here during our stay until May and one of them clearly defined is to live in harmony with the wildlife. This will take vigilance, preparation and forethought every time we are outside! It is a priority.
Hilde and I do almost everything together – it’s safer and more fun! But I had a few times during the day Saturday where I was alone. I went for a run alone with my revolver – just down to the point and back two times. Hilde was working on putting up some more black cardboard insulation outside. We’ve had massive amounts of snow the past 24 hours (thankful for my #OR Gaitors), the snow drifts would have made a run with Ettra too challenging. She hunts while she runs and has such strength when she sniffs out reindeer tracks- she could probably pull me all the way to Longyearbyen with her muscle.
Runs here are not like anywhere else. I am carrying a weapon all the time, eyes darting left to right and I run to the edge of things to make sure the polar bear is not lurking below. Just as the bear ran off – I called to Hilde – she fired a shot with the flare gun – Ettra hated this. A warning to the bear.
Minutes later we traced her tracks outside. She definitely knows we are here and that there is food – her snout left an imprint on the snow sitting atop the big white cooler – our frozen goods inside.
Sunday, we decided to walk towards the west while we still had a few hours of light. There in the distance, about 300 metres away from us was a large polar bear charging off to the north. Clearly he had heard us and we scared it off. We followed the tracks to see if it might have been the same polar bear and roughly which direction it came from. To our huge surprise, we spotted lots of blood and there she lay, a reindeer hunted by a polar bear. Could this be? It was so fresh that it must have been within the past hour or so.
“I have seen this only three times before”, says Hilde “It’s not at all normal that a polar bear hunts on land. Their food source is seal. As recent as last April I saw the same thing. A polar bear had been hiding behind a large boulder, hunted and killed a reindeer.
That same weekend I felt that I was being ‘hunted’ by a female polar bear that came to within 20 metres behind me, before I noticed her. After a peaceful staring contest she made a move and went on. Then found a rock to hide behind and seemed to stare a long time before she went on.
It is possible that this is the Polar Bears way of dealing with climate change. Since the decrease in ice in the fjord there is less of its primary food source. Reindeer is a great alternative but the polar bears need to learn to hunt them. The polar bear we saw run away from its kill had clearly been lying in wait behind a knoll above where the reindeer was. She waited until it was close enough and then slid down the hill- we saw the skid marks. It would not be possible for a polar bear to outrun a reindeer so this method makes sense even though it is disturbing to think of, that we are also being hunted. I admit that even with my over 200 polar bear encounters I feel insecure now that we are going into the dark polar night. When it’s dark it almost impossible to tell a reindeer from a polar bear until it’s close to us. And a difficult polar bear around Bamsebu is not something we need or want.
Børge Damsgård, one of the lead researchers at UNIS commented on our sighting with text message via #IridiumExtreme:
”No, this is actually very rare. We know that a polar bear can eat reindeer but not hunt them. We (science community) have discussed whether or not reindeer can be a new food source for polar bears as a result of climate changes and little ice, less seals but there is so little documented.”
We think this is fascinating – our photos and observations will become helpful for the researchers working to better understand behavior like this, where little is documented.
It is hard not to sleep with your eyes wide open and think “what if”? What if I didn’t turn the light on? We often do not turn the light on so we can see the northern lights. What if she came from the left side of the hut where there would have been more of a face to face confrontation?
We can make ourselves crazy with “what-if’s” and we can visualize every worst case scenario and what we would do. While this helps with situational awareness- nothing really prepares us for the defining moment. So, we stay alert and always, without a glitch, slow down enough to make sure that we move with awareness and safety.
We promise!
Bear hugs, Sunniva and Hilde
Polar bear Facts
- Largest bear species on earth
- More polar bears than humans in Svalbard
- Males reach 300-700kg/Females reach 150-350kg
- Marine mammal
- Main food source is seal
- Sleep 60%, walk 30% and eat 10% of its time
- Can swim for days in open sea
- Female polar bear go into den in November/December and give birth to usually 2 cubs of approx 500 grams around Christmas and comes out of the den in March
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Wow! I most definitely would be checking my pants upon my return inside! No question, so stunningly beautiful yet they demand so much respect, especially in their natural environment! Continued success in your research, in awe of all that you both are doing! Big Canadian hugs sent your way eh!!!!!!! Xoxo
Your event descriptions Allow me to visualize the moment and feel as though I am part of the adventure.
Hope you publish a journal in the end. Many young people are motivated to follow their dreams when they learn of how others allow theirs to come alive.
Best to you both, ParmeLee
Amazing experience and yes… terrifying as well. Sunniva… you said this was one of your fears. It sounds like you faced it like a champ! It’s my hope and prayer that you both and Etra stay safe. Thank you for sharing your experience; no doubt your photos and data collected is invaluable . Much love is being sent from Canada! Ox??
Very happy that you are okay. What an adventure and such much information to gather in climate change and how it’s effecting the polar bears and reindeer. I’m so glad you are okay and that Ettra was not outside sleeping at that time of your polar bear visit. Love seeing your smiling happy faces in the photos as well. Keep up the excellent work you are doing and continue being safe and alert. Hugs
Stunning! What an experience! Two days ago I was telling a class of seven year old children all about you both. They were fascinated and their teacher has signed up for your blog to share with them. They will be so excited to read your latest news!!!
Very interesting to follow up what the polar bears will have to do to maintain suitable food with all the vitamins and minerals they need. There is such a difference between seal and reindeer.
However…you are doing a great project. Keep safe, keep healthy, enjoy the magnificent beauty around you.
I’m so grateful to CBC Radio One for interviewing you this morning. I will enjoy following your amazing adventure and important work. Stay safe! ??
So great to read your blog. I met Hilde at a fundraising garage sale in Squamish. It is amazing to read about this encounter and all that you are learning and observing on this expedition. Stay alert & safe and enjoy this time surrounded with the beauty of the North. We appreciate your efforts to helping to better understand the ecosystem so to help preserve our planet. xo
OMG never a dull moment with my friend Sunniva!!! Fais attention à toi et profite de ces moments extraordinaires ?
Wow, what stories you have and what important observations you’re making. Thank you for sharing, it’s so interesting to read about. Stay safe!
My 7-year-old son says it’s too bad about the reindeer and hopes it’s not one of Santa’s!
Your experience is exhilarating but terrifying at the same time. I had a similar, but safer, experience last week at Seal River Heritage Lodge, just north of Churchill (Canada’s ‘polar bear capital’). Polar bears came right up to the big windows of the lodge and looked in, including a mother and two cubs one evening. Even though we were inside on those occasions, it was an amazing experience to look these beautiful bears in the eye and for them to return their thoughtful gaze. Churchill Wild (owner of Seal River Heritage Lodge) also offers guided walks a couple times each day. We walked along the shore of Hudson Bay as it was freezing up, looking for bears, foxes, hares and ptarmigans. It was the most amazing wildlife experience I’ve ever had in Canada. Check out http://www.churchillwild.com Also see professional photographer George Turner’s photos from the week we were there. He’s on Instagram under George the Explorer. Take care and I look forward to hearing more about your adventures, and more bear stories! Suzanne
You sure have to be alert all the time. I thoroughly enjoy your blog. All the best as the polar night descends
love this so exciting to learn about the north, you are two brave young women…..
You made no mention of pepper spray or other deterrent devices to be carried with you at ALL times. On my little “adventures” in the Northwest Territories I decided not to carry a gun, but I did carry three devices in small holsters on my waist belt: a very noisy airhorn (just like obnoxious football fans use); a small blank-shooting starter’s pistol modified to shoot cracker shells (both “bangers” and “screamers”) out to a distance of 40 metres or so; and finally, for when a bear is very close and the situation is very dangerous, a can of pepper spray. Polar bears are an integral part of the profound beauty that surrounds you, but they are carnivores and they are hungry! Take care, and have a wonderful time out there. I’m jealous! 🙂
Thinking of you both and Ettra every day. Thank you for sharing your adventures with us — and thank you for staying safe. You are much loved!!! xoxo
Your life up there must be wonderful- I envy you at my young age (72 years), I wish I could be there,too.
Keep us updated and most of all take care
Hi. Have just subscribed to your blog after listening to your interviewx& story on CBCs The Current, this morning.
Love and good fortune to you for your generosity in lending your expertise and bravery in the pursuit of truth.
Breathtaking post, you two. Wow – what an experience! By sharing in such a descriptive way, we really do get a sense of life at Bamsebu. Thank you both for staying aware and focused in the moment, so you don’t make unfortunate mistakes. My love and thoughts are with you every day. Stay safe. ??♀️
Take good good care of yourselves. I hope you do not have more encounters like this but since they know there is food there – it seems likely. So I do hope any future encounters are also as fleeting – for all of you!
Wow! Glad your encounters all ended well. Might you be able to hook up a speaker of some sort and play some loud rock music before opening the door? Or perhaps a blast from something like and air horn. Loud, obnoxious noise might encourage a bear to move away?
Oh wow! Sunniva I’ll bet you never thought an encounter with a polar bear would be so close and so soon! Brave women! So glad all three of you are okay.
Stay safe,stay alert and STAY INSIDE! I know that’s not possible so let nothing happen to you all.
Thank you for sharing your stories,love your blog.
Please take care.