Polar Bear Jail, Chilling in Churchill & Hanging Out With the Apex Predator on Ice

About this episode

Cate Collins discusses polar bears, their behavior, and the effects of climate change on their habitat with host Mark Leiren-Young.

Have you ever met a polar bear? They're the fiercest animal on earth, one of the most iconic and one of the most chill – in every possible way. Cate Collins – the lead scientist/science translator – for polar bear tours to Churchill, Manitoba talks with Skaana host Mark Leiren-Young about hanging out with polar bears, polar bear mating and the impact of the climate crisis on their habits and habitat. “They are the top of the food chain… and they don't have too much to be scared of.” – Cate Collins Skaana on social media: Linktree Facebook Bluesky Instagram Mark on social media: Linktree Facebook Bluesky Instagram Threads Shownotes: 2:20 Meet Cate Collins – polar bear expert. 3:42 The first time she saw a polar bear. 6:15 The bears… they've grown accustomed to our face(s). “They are the top of the food chain… and they don't have too much to be scared of.” 8:38 Buggy love… 9:22 Polar bear jail and how to deal with the prisoners. 15:37 The ins and outs of Polar bear mating. 18:27 On why polar bears are marine mammals and the bears who never leave the ice. 23:00 On the impact of the vanishing ice and the challenges for bears and…

People in this episode

Host: Mark Leiren-Young

Guest: Cate Collins

Topics covered

• polar bears
• climate crisis
• wildlife
• nature tours
• habitat

Keywords

• Churchill
• Manitoba
• apex predator
• mating habits

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Audible

Books & works: The Killer Whale Who Changed the World, The Orca Bites Podcast, Octopus Ocean, Sharks Forever, Killer Whale Who Changed the World, Orcas Everywhere &, Orcas of the Salish Sea & Big Whales, Small World Paint the Ocean You Wish to See

Places: Churchill, Manitoba, Greenland

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• Misty MacDuffee on the Southern Resident Orcas and the Threat of Bright Extinction · September 29, 2025 · 58 min
• The Killer Whale That Changed the World · July 16, 2025 · 59 min
• Mark Leiren-Young – Sharks Forever and Jaws Forever? · July 2, 2025 · 16 min
• David Shiffman – On 50 Years of Jaws vs. Sharks · June 18, 2025 · 44 min