This mother polar bear stands calmly in the beautiful morning light along the shores of Hudson Bay. Her two-year old cub in the distance follows her lead. In the past several years the ice on Hudson Bay has been freezing later and later. In 2010, the bears weren’t able to get out on the ice to hunt until December 6th. Back in the 70s, 80s and 90s, the bears were regularly getting out on the frozen bay no later than November 20-21. These polar bears are the most southerly population of all polar bears, and unfortunately they are predicted to be gone before 2050 – most likely sooner. This image was captured during an assignment for Polar Bears International.