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A polar bear and her two cubs resting near a Tundra Buggy outside Churchill, ManitobaPhoto : Studiogirl54 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Ours polaires

Où voir des ours polaires au Canada

Les endroits au Canada où voir des ours polaires sauvages, les mois où y aller, les voyagistes qui vous y emmènent et comment rester en sécurité en territoire d'ours. Chaque ligne renvoie à sa source.

Les meilleurs endroits pour les voir

Carte du Canada avec 4 repères numérotés : 1. Churchill, 2. Wapusk National Park, 3. Arviat and Nunavut's coast, 4. Torngat Mountains National Park
  1. A polar bear beside a Tundra Buggy near Churchill, Manitoba
    Photo : TravelingOtter · CC BY 2.0

    Manitoba

    Churchill

    Pourquoi ici
    From mid-October to mid-November, some 600 polar bears gather on the Hudson Bay shore near Churchill, waiting for the ice. Source ↗
    Bears are around all year, but they are easiest to find in October and November, as they move toward the frozen bay. Source ↗
    Meilleurs mois
    Mid-October to mid-November Source ↗
    Conseil
    Tours sell out: Travel Manitoba advises booking at least a year ahead to secure a spot. Source ↗
    Partir avec
    Ouvrir Ailleurs au Manitoba →
  2. Ours polaires dans le parc national Wapusk, vus d’hélicoptère
    Photo : Peterfitzgerald · CC BY-SA 3.0

    Manitoba

    Wapusk National Park

    Pourquoi ici
    The park protects one of the largest polar bear maternity denning areas in the world. Source ↗
    Canadian Geographic calls it the southernmost polar bear denning ground on the planet. Source ↗
    Meilleurs mois
    February and March, when mothers lead their cubs out of the dens Source ↗
    Conseil
    There are no roads into the park: visits go through licensed tour operators, and Wat'chee Expeditions runs the cub season. Source ↗
    Partir avec
    Ouvrir Ailleurs au Manitoba →
  3. A polar bear on northern Baffin Island, Nunavut
    Photo : David Stanley · CC BY 2.0

    Nunavut

    Arviat and Nunavut's coast

    Pourquoi ici
    In the fall, bears waiting for sea ice come close to Nunavut communities, Arviat above all. Source ↗
    Safaris are led by Inuit guides who know bear behaviour closely and keep visitors safe. Source ↗
    Meilleurs mois
    Fall, before the sea ice forms Source ↗
    Conseil
    Keep your distance from the bears and bring a zoom lens for photos. Source ↗
  4. Folded rock at the mouth of Saglek Fjord, Torngat Mountains National Park
    Photo : Paul Gierszewski · Public domain

    Newfoundland and Labrador

    Torngat Mountains National Park

    Pourquoi ici
    Parks Canada puts the odds of meeting a polar bear here as extremely high. Source ↗
    The park's superintendent told National Geographic that visitors are all but sure to see one. Source ↗
    Meilleurs mois
    Mid-July to late August, the park's visitor season Source ↗
    Conseil
    Explore with an experienced Inuit bear guard, who may carry a firearm in the park. Source ↗
    Ouvrir Ailleurs à Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador →Parks Canada: Torngat Mountains ↗

Sécurité en territoire d'ours

  • Never walk aloneIn Churchill, travel in a group and stay together, and look around before you step out of a building. Source ↗
  • Stay in town in the fallWalking or cycling out of Churchill is a fine way to explore at other times of year, but not from September to November. Source ↗
  • Go with a guideTo explore the shore or head out of town, go with a local guide or tour company, who knows how to handle a curious bear. Source ↗
  • Know the risky monthsThe odds of meeting a bear rise from July until the bay freezes, and peak in October and November. Source ↗
  • Call 675-BEARReport any bear in or near Churchill to the 24-hour Polar Bear Alert line, 204-675-2327. Source ↗
  • Wapusk with a guide onlyApart from the visitor centre in Churchill, Parks Canada's northern Manitoba sites, Wapusk among them, should never be visited without a licensed guide or Parks Canada staff. Source ↗
  • Carry deterrents in the TorngatsBring approved bear deterrents such as cracker shells and an air horn, and know how to use them. Source ↗

Sources