Competition

/ by Katie Billing of Polar Bears International

Viewing bear fights is one of the memorable highlights as a tourist visiting Churchill. Male bears open their jaws and circle one another, sizing up competition and determining if it is worth the fight. Lucky photographers capture the bears standing on hind legs pawing and pushing one another around. These play fights take place in October and November. Late April and May the fights become less play and more fierce! This is because April-May is polar bear mating season. Bear testosterone levels are at their peak as they fight in vicious battles that can result in wounds, scars, and broken bones! These fights are critical in asserting dominance and breeding with females. Typically the largest male wins. However, this is not always the case- some bears may be better at catching scents! Male bears have followed their noses over 60 miles to find a female bear. If the male gets to her first and no other males are around, he is one lucky bear! Mating males average around 10 years of age when they are in their prime size and stand a worthy chance at fighting. Odds are the bigger you are, the better you are. If a bear is too small to fight, he simply has to wait! Sorry boys!