In conversation with Wally Daudrich on Churchill’s rise as an Arctic eco-tourism hub

Wally Daudrich is a Churchill based eco-tourism entrepreneur. He runs Lazy Bear Expeditions and captains Matonabee. Located in the far-flung northern end of central Canada – by the Hudson Bay – Churchill is a small town (population of approximately 800) in province of Manitoba. Best known as the polar bear capital of the world.

Praveen Gupta: How did Churchill evolve from a military base to an eco-tourism destination? Please describe your early venture in eco-tourism.

Wally Daudrich: The military represented a boom for an otherwise small coastal village. The boom ended when political and scientific conditions changed and there was no longer a need for an early dispatch airport for countermeasures to Soviet threats. Those threats dissipated with the development of satellite warning systems. 

Ecotourism in the world didn’t start to fully develop until a consciousness of our environment that we live in needs to be balanced with sustainable economic development.  

Churchill was a fur trading village for centuries. It was unique in many ways as it developed a trading system that benefitted both Indigenous people and Europeans of that day. 

"During the military days there was very little activity of bears coming into populated areas… When the military left the bears moved in."

At first the polar bear was viewed as a nuisance. During the military days there was very little activity of bears coming into populated areas. By virtue of the amount of activity, the Polar Bears generally stayed away. When the military left the bears moved in. 

As this made news of actual polar bears walking through Churchill it generated millions of dollars of free publicity before the internet and social media became the main comms method. Local businesses grew around the demand for local polar bear tours near Churchill. 

When the sea-ice melts, polar bears wander in and around Churchill! 📸  Amiya Gupta

PG: The Churchill ecosystem is at the intersection of three biomes and show-cases large polar bear and beluga whale populations. What are the unique circumstances that arise at this intersection?

WD: There are several natural forces that create the apex mammal life in Churchill.

First, the proximity of Churchill near four river systems helps to create a brackish water environment. This attracts fish and spawning concentrations in the area. And of course the concentration of fish brings the high fat concentrated mammals of seals and whales. And as a result the apex predator is here in higher than normal numbers. 

“The concentration of fish brings the high fat concentrated mammals of seals and whales. And as a result the apex predator is here in higher than normal numbers."

Also, geographically we have a large peninsula called Cape Churchill. This peninsula in conjunction with the ice spewed out by all the river systems helps to cause the area to freeze up to 2 months sooner than other parts of Hudson Bay. 

Polar bear holding place! 📸  Praveen Gupta

The proximity of the Boreal Forest and the Tundra biomes are largely irrelevant to the success of the polar bears in this area. But they are interesting in how the species interact from the different biomes. 

PG: You have been observing the Churchill environment for 45 years, how has it changed with global warming and how will it continue to change?

WD: I believe that in general the climate is warming. But I believe it has been warming as a general trend for thousands of years. Polar Bears will not start to die like we sometimes see illustrated by organizations looking for donations. They slow down reproduction.

I have seen our local population fluctuate over the almost 5 decades as we see volcanoes, and other natural events affect the temperature of our summers. The overall changes I see are not alarming me. I also see a number of behaviour adaptions from the bears which allow them to hunt successfully each summer. 

“Polar Bears will not start to die like we sometimes see illustrated by organizations looking for donations. They slow down reproduction. I have seen our local population fluctuate over the almost 5 decades."

PG: How can eco-tourism help reinforce Churchill’s biodiversity?

WD: Ecotourism in Churchill is terribly political. But the rewards for those who work hard and provide honest service and integrity will pay off albeit sometimes with years of adversity. I have seen it myself as I grew my business that the eventual jealousy’s flare with our competition. 

Spot the ‘white fluffy thing’ from the water front – onboard Matonabee – in the good hands of Captain Wally! 📸  Praveen Gupta

PG: What can budding eco-tourism destinations learn from the Churchill story? 

WD: Make sure that there is opportunity for younger generations to create their business and thrive. Regulations are good. But there has to be a balance of freedom and regulations to keep innovators in business. 

PG: Can you please expand on the interaction of species such as red fox and prairie fox / and the whales in this eco-system (belugas, bar heads and narwhals).

WD: Conceivably red fox and Arctic fox are close enough that they can actually breed together. Although I’ve never seen. They typically are at war with  each other.  The Arctic fox is significantly bigger and more robust than the red Fox of southern Manitoba.  As I mentioned to you – our red Fox have various colour schemes that are normally not seen anywhere else. The Arctic fox are quite prolific breeders. Sometimes having as many as 24 young. 

Arctic fox have been able to adapt to an Arctic coastal environment and often will follow the polar bears out on the ice to scavenge after a seal kill. Red Fox will not. Red Fox feel more comfortable in the boreal forest surrounded by trees and willows. 

“Arctic fox have been able to adapt to an Arctic coastal environment and often will follow the polar bears out on the ice to scavenge after a seal kill. Red Fox will not."

Much of what surrounds Churchill is actually not tundra, but would be considered Tiaga – a Russian word which means transition.  The transition between the boreal forest and the tundra.  The word is noteworthy because the true Tiaga transition area near Churchill is about 100 miles wide and makes a significant geographical area.

Or be driven – for bear spotting on a tundra buggy – by a brilliant guide & story-teller Rob Watson! 📸  Praveen Gupta

Once you get north of the tree line onto the tundra the food supplies is significantly less for animals like the Arctic fox. Red fox generally don’t venture much above the tree line, but of course the Arctic fox does and actually reaches as far north as the high Arctic. All animal life has to start with vegetation somewhere.  And of course, the Arctic fox can feed on lemmings., ptarmigan, voles, geese, and other migratory birds in the high arctic and even Arctic hares. 

“It’s suspected that the warm estuarial waters also create a micro environment for the young whales who are born here."  

With regards to the beluga whales, they actually will crossbreed with the narwhals. Researchers referred to them as narlugas. A hybrid between the two whales. With characteristics of both parents, but generally without a tusk. What I can tell you is the people who hunt them find it significantly harder to hunt the narwhals because they are considerably faster swimmers than the belugas. 

The belugas have a migratory lifecycle migrating between areas known as Lancaster sound on the east side of Baffin Island and spend the winters in the high Arctic in areas where there is strong current and resulting open water. What brings them to this area is the brackish water environment, which is great for the fish that concentrate in the river mouths and provide for a quick layer of fat as the beluga’s will moult through the summer and require oily fish to build up the roughly 6 inches of fat layer around their bodies to help insulate them.   It’s suspected that the warm estuarial waters also create a micro environment for the young whales who are born here.  

PG: Many thanks for the local flavour to this amazing and unique natural haven, Wally. May Churchill also transform into an eco-tourism capital of the world.

This article is also published on The Diversity Blog. illuminem Voices is a democratic space presenting the thoughts and opinions of leading Sustainability & Energy writers, their opinions do not necessarily represent those of illuminem.

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