2018 Wildlife Count

Churchill Wildlife Sightings

Each year we keep a running tally of all the wildlife we see during our adventures in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area. We do this so we can compare year over year how much wildlife we see in order to have an understanding of how populations in the North are faring, and so that we can share with our guests what they might expect to see when they join us on a Tundra Buggy® excursion. Note that these are the number of sightings, not the number of individual animals.

Below is our list of top wildlife sightings recorded in 2018, in no particular order. For comparison, check out our 2017 Top Ten List.

TOP WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS IN 2018

#1 Polar Bears: 392 (compared to 280 in 2017)

Two polar bears roll in the snow near willows. © JP McCarthy

#2 Canada Goose*: 5820 (compared to 2000+ in 2017)

A flock of Canada Geese take flight. © Frontiers North Adventures

#3 Snow Goose*: 180 (compared to 1000+ in 2017)

Snow goose swim in a pond on the tundra. © Frontiers North Adventures

#4 Caribou: 65 (compared to 95 in 2017)

A caribou walks the tundra in front of a large patch of fireweed. © Jim Baldwin

#5 Willow Ptarmigan: 394 (compared to 198 in 2017)

A willow ptarmigan walks on the snow in the winter. © JP McCarthy

#6 Arctic Fox: 29 (compared to 27 in 2017)

An arctic fox stretches out on the ice and snow. © Jennifer Harte

#7 Arctic Hare: 30 (compared to 11 in 2017)

An awfully cute arctic hair rolls around on the snow. © Jessica Finn

#8 Eider Duck: 55 (compared to 171 in 2017)

An eider duck floats in the water. © Frontiers North Adventures

#9 Tundra Swan: 249 (compared to 407 in 2017)

Bald Eagle: 78 (compared to 157 in 2017)

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Snowy Owl: 16

Moose: 4

Ringed Seal: 2

Cross Fox: 5

Red Fox: 7

2018 Wildlife Count

TOP WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS IN 2018

#1 Polar Bears: 392 (compared to 280 in 2017)

#2 Canada Goose*: 5820 (compared to 2000+ in 2017)