Churchill Wildlife Guide | Know Before You Go

In summer, the tundra buzzes with energy and life, but in winter, conditions on the same northern landscape are daunting, and it appears quite desolate and bleak. Despite the harsh climate and long, frigid darkness of winter, a variety of animals from Arctic fox to snowy owls have adapted their behavior and instincts to subsist in the region year-round. About 40 mammal species live in and around Churchill (half are marine mammals), and approximately 100 bird species breed here.

Please note that wildlife sightings are few and far between during the northern lights season—most polar bears are out hunting for seals on the frozen ice of the Hudson Bay, while other animals are hunkered down due to the harsh winter conditions on the tundra.

Click the links below to learn more about each species.

Know Before You Go