Connecting To Polar Bears
/ Post by Katie Billings of Polar Bears International
When you see a wild polar bear there is an undeniable connection you develop with them. The first time I looked into the eyes of a polar bear I was mesmerized and immediately empowered by the majestic qualities polar bears possess. The first bear I locked eyes with this year was a little bear we nicknamed BB. This bear was a female yearling, meaning that this was her first year away from mom. She wandered right up to the Tundra Buggy and gave us some buggy love. The Tundra Buggies are large bus like vehicles with 10 ft. tall wheels that keep humans safe from polar bears while still providing a wonderful view of their livelihood. The moment I truly connected to BB was when she stuck her nose up the grate on the bottom of the floor. She exhaled and I saw her breath come out like a cloud. I leaned down to mimic the breath and she looked up at me. Our eyes made contact and I couldn’t help but think, wow.
Polar bears are the lords of the arctic. They are elegant, mighty,dangerous and play a huge role in the environment. Polar bears also play a role in the community. The native people often tell stories about polar bears turning into people or people turning into polar bears. The connection between humans and bears is very deep and spiritual. When I look at wild polar bears I feel in tune with them. I feel as if at some point the bear’s spirit and mine had intertwined. When I look at the Northern Lights I see the spirit bears dancing. Churchill is a place where you can see the bears and the Aurora Borealis and know that humans and nature act in harmony.
