Snowmobilers get up close with polar bear in Labrador

A small group of snowmobilers got some serious face time with a polar bear in Labrador last Sunday.

Edwin Clark, Neko Dyson and two friends spent about half an hour near a bear they found while they were out on the snow in Batteau, near Black Tickle.

"The bear was walking out towards sea ice," said Edwin Clark, who snapped a photo of Dyson approaching the bear. "He was pretty lazy, just eating snow."

"It's pretty exciting, the first time seeing a polar bear, and I was able to get that close," said Dyson.

Clark and Dyson were out for an Easter trip to Batteau with a friend and Dyson's sister when they came across the animal. 

At first blush, Clark said the bear looked tired, as if it had just been running.

It was as close as either of the men had been to a polar bear.

Dyson made two close approaches to the animal. He said it was about twice the size of a normal black bear, but didn't think much of the two men.

"It was just relaxing there," he said. "It didn't show much fear of us."

Dyson said he's grown a new respect for polar bears after seeing one up close.

Clark added that he would probably never get a chance to see another bear from that distance — but if he did, he would take it.