Sailors of the Floe

When we originally came across this family of polar bears, mother was leading them away from a large and clearly desperate male polar bear. (Male bears can and will kill cubs for food and or so that they can mate with the prospective female.) Momma bear knew her stuff! She successfully led her cubs far enough away from the male bear before he decided they were not worth the effort. We had spent several hours observing the bears from the safety of our vessel along the edge of the ice floe. They had been napping for some time when something caught their attention. They rose to their feet and paused momentarily before mom led the charge! This was my first time witnessing first hand a bear of any kind charging and was it ever a humbling experience to see. Truthfully, I wish that everyone who spends time in and around bears, no matter your level of experience, should witness. A humble reminder of who is in charge when you are in their world.