Polar Bears of Alaska (36 images)

In October Polar Bears, the largest bears in the world, gather near the shore of Kaktovik, Alaska, a native village on Barter Island off the northeast coast of Alaska. The bears await the "freeze up," when the Beaufort Sea and the Arctic Ocean freeze over to solid ice, allowing the bears to venture forth on the ice to hunt for seals all winter. We enjoyed wonderful light and plentiful opportunities to view the bears from two small boats.