Wapusk National Park

Home to about 935 polar bears, Wapusk National Park is one of the world's largest polar bears maternity denning areas. The park is located along the western Hudson Bay.

Polar bears hunt their main food source, the ring seal on sea ice. Sea ice is the natural habitat of polar bears. From late September to November, many polar bears migrate along the shore to catch the first pack of ice of the winter. The number of polar bears peak during this time, around Cape Churchill.

The ice on the Hudson Bay melts in late July, so the polar bears are forced to come ashore. They fast for about four months until the bay freezes again and they can hunt seals. Pregnant females will fast for around eight months and stay on land through out the winter to give birth to their cubs. 

A unique adaptation of polar bears is they can slow down their metabolism at anytime during the year which allows them to conserve energy when the food supply is low.  

To read more about Wapusk National Park go to:
http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/mb/wapusk/natcul/natcul1ci.aspx