The Churchill area lies near the southern limit of where polar bears are able to live year-round. The Churchill region also has one of the biggest polar bear denning areas in the world. The ice throughout Hudson Bay melts completely by the end of July or early August and does not refreeze until approximately early November. This means that all bears must come ashore for about 3-4 months. During this period of time, the bears are not actively hunting, therefore they must survive on fat reserves that they have built up through the winter. The ice first forms along the western coast of Hudson Bay, and usually runs north along the coast from Cape Churchill. Throughout the fall and especially just before freeze-up of the bay, increasing numbers of bears move towards the coast. Here, they congregate within easy viewing access, until they can move out onto the frozen ice of the bay and begin feeding again for the next eight months. Sparring behaviour between males is observed at this time, and it is curious to note that females do not initiate this behaviour. Our EarthWatch program led by University of Central Florida researchers Jane Waterman and Jim Roth studies this social interaction and also how ecotourism affects male polar bears.