HARVEY WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY

North American Bears: Wapusk National Park, Manitoba, Canada

These polar bear pictures are from Wapusk National Park. Wapusk is a polar bear habitat providing the largest denning area for polar bears in the world.

In November, pregnant polar bears dig a den up to ten feet below the snow's surface. There she will give birth to one to three polar bear cubs and will stay until her cubs are ready to travel to Hudson Bay in February or March. When the family leaves the den, they walk until the cubs are tired, then nurse and have a nap. When the cubs wake up, they tend to play a little bit, then continue on their journey. They continue this pattern until they reach Hudson Bay several days later. Here the mother can finally get a much deserved seal dinner after not eating for several months.

In February and March wildlife photographers gather at Wapusk National Park to take pictures of polar bears and cubs. I hope you enjoy these pictures of polar bear cubs. While we are taking pictures of these arctic polar bears, the temperature is -40 to-50 below zero, so these images of polar bears don't come easily.

After the cubs have had a nap they become active but rarely stray from their mother.
   
Picture of polar bear cubs playing on their mother.
   
We visited this den every day for eight days. This was the most we saw of this mother and we never did get a chance to see her cubs.
     
  
These cute little polar bear cubs pose breifly for a picture in Wapusk National Park.
   
Polar bear cubs can be quite playful and they don't often stray very far from their mother, so it is common to see the cubs battling on top of their mom.
   
     
  
   
  
Unfortunately this mother and her two cubs were facing away from us, but we did get the odd cute shot as one of the cubs was curious and kept peeking over his mommy.
     
  
These two little rascals were really duking it out and finally rolled off mom as they were biting one another.
   
These cute little polar bear babies stop playing briefly as their curiousity got the better of them. I think they were wondering what the shutter relase sounds were, so they stopped what they were doing and stared at us.
   
For the first four days of our polar bear safari, this was the closest that we got to a picture of a polar bear. I think she may have popped her head out of her den two or three times that day.
     
  
Even polar bear cubs play shy around strangers.
   
This polar bear family is a little bit on guard and is giving us a look as they contemplate whether or not they are going to take off.
   
     
  
Mom's attempt to sleep is somewhat futile as her babies crawl all over her. They fight with one another, explore on her and ocasionally tug on her ears and cheeks and generally behave as crazy cubs.
   
Picture of a polar bear mom and cub walking in Wapusk Natinonal Park.
   
     
  
Polar bear cubs peek at us around mom.
   
  
     
  
   
Polar bear cubs are usually either playing, fighting, sleeping or eating. These two cubs take a small break before tearing into one another again.
   
     
  
Picture of a polar bear family in Wapusk National Park.
   
Mom waits as her polar bear babies scamper to catch up to her.
  
Mother polar bear is kind enough to pose for a quick picture before leaving us.
     
  
   
  
     
  
This polar bear family starts the next leg of their journey on their way to Hudson Bay.
  
  
I got a kick out of this polar bear cub as he reclines on his mother as though she is an easy chair.
     
  
This mother has twins. The second cub is resting against her moms stomach.
   
This cub is inquisitive, but has wandered about as far away from his mother as he will go.
   
This female polar bear has been in a den for several months, so when she comes out she likes to roll and rub in the snow. I think it is a combination of scratching an itch and cleaning herself. One of her babies can't resist temptation and goes for a ride.
     
  
This female polar bear has been in a den for several months, so when she comes out she likes to roll and rub in the snow. I think it is a combination of scratching an itch and cleaning herself. One of her babies can't resist temptation and goes for a ride.
   
This female polar bear has been in a den for several months, so when she comes out she likes to roll and rub in the snow. I think it is a combination of scratching an itch and cleaning herself. One of her babies can't resist temptation and goes for a ride.
   
This female polar bear has been in a den for several months, so when she comes out she likes to roll and rub in the snow. I think it is a combination of scratching an itch and cleaning herself. One of her babies can't resist temptation and goes for a ride.
     
  
This female polar bear has been in a den for several months, so when she comes out she likes to roll and rub in the snow. I think it is a combination of scratching an itch and cleaning herself. One of her babies can't resist temptation and goes for a ride.
   
This polar bear baby is really clumsy. They were trying to run to their mommy, but the one in the front wiped out and rolled into a small brush.
   
There are actually two polar bear cubs in this picture. The second cub is warmly tucked against her mother's tummy underneath her legs.
     
  
There are actually two polar bear cubs in this picture. The second cub is warmly tucked against her mother's tummy underneath her legs.