Hudson Bay (04:17)

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Three explorers travel to Churchill, Canada where nearby polar bears gather each year and wait for sea ice to freeze. It is the first place in the region where sea ice forms.

The Arctic (03:29)

The extreme temperatures and weather in region makes it a perfect home for polar bears. More than four million people also live within the region. Higher temperatures are threatening the balance of ice.

Waiting for Ice (07:03)

Each year polar bears wait for sea ice in Churchill, but recently they have been waiting longer. The explorers find multiple bears in the tundra outside Churchill. The city is a destination for people wanting to see polar bears.

Natural Resources (05:51)

Greenland's surface is covered with a large sheet of ice. Most of the population lives near the coast and relieves on the fishing industry. Companies are looking to mine areas where the ice has retreated.

Environmental Concerns (02:48)

A local sheep farm expresses fears about what the mine will do to Greenland. Many are concerned about the dust from radioactive uranium.

Polar Bear International (02:07)

Chief Scientist Steve Amstrup explains the importance of ice for polar bears hunting seals. Disappearing ice is creating a shorter hunting season.

Churchill (04:10)

The city's closest neighboring city is more than 600 miles away. Locals relay on the train as the only way out of the city. Amstrup spots a subadult polar bear outside of Churchill.

Army Camp (06:44)

The Canadian Armed Forces has a training camp high in the arctic. Many of the soldiers have never been in the arctic before and came from widely different climates.

GPS Tracking (02:24)

Scientists have been placing GPS collars on polar bears along the migration route, which has allowed for long term study. It records the bears' movements and hunting activity.

Oil Field (08:55)

Prudhoe Bay is the base of oil drilling operations in Alaska, where a large store of oil was discovered in the 1960s. The nearby city of Barrow has been home to Inupait people for hundreds of years.

Challenges (02:48)

The mayor of Churchill talks about the need for jobs in the community. The city has a large number of tourists during bear season but jobs are needed for the rest of the year.

Credits: Operation Arctic: Episode 1 (00:31)

Credits: Operation Arctic: Episode 1