Plot Synopsis

POLAR BEAR TOWN is a one-hour documentary series set in a unique Arctic town, revealing the closest human-bear encounters on Earth. Every fall, 1,000 seal-starved polar bears migrate directly through the frontier town of Churchill, Manitoba, and the town's population explodes from 800 to 10,000 with the arrival of tourists. Armed with nothing but a flare pistol, young gun Kelsey Eliasson guides his clients amongst the majestic bears -- driven by passion and profit, he pushes ever closer, determined to protect both the clients and the bears. His friend and mentor, Dennis Compayre, is a bear whisperer whose charm works as well with the bears as it does with the locals. Former hippie lothario, Brian Ladoon, may not be a guide, but he operates a roadside attraction where his Eskimo dog kennel attracts curious bears and cash toting tourists. On Wednesday, November 16, 2016 at 8pm ET/PT, Smithsonian Channel aired the U.S. premiere of this series. On Wednesday, November 22, 2017 at 8pm ET/PT, Smithsonian Channel premiered the three-episode second season of POLAR BEAR TOWN. This season kicks off with summer. Tourists flock to town to see thousands of beluga whales crowding the bay, but this year, an increasing number of bears have arrived in town earlier than usual. While it may prove to be lucrative for the guides who take tourists to see polar bears, it makes life much more dangerous for locals. Guide Dennis is thrilled at the prospect of a second summer bear season, but when his No. 1 client wants to get a risky picture of a swimming polar bear above and under the water, he gets worried. The lure of a polar bear bonanza also brings Kelsey back to Churchill, but when he happens upon a mom and cub swimming toward town, he steps in to try to keep them from getting too close. If the bears reach their destination, it could be disastrous for them - and the locals. At the Mile 5 Dog Sanctuary, Brian Ladoon is set on protecting his dogs from swarms of summer insects, but a tragic bear incident catches him off guard. After a large polar bear known as Big Bear kills one of Brian Ladoon's dogs right in town, the community is on edge. Everyone wants this bear found before another victim is claimed. Conservation is on high alert while Dennis and Andrew use night-vision cameras to look for the elusive bear; if they can identify Big Bear's path into town, it could help in catching him and keeping both the bear and the community safe. While locals try to avoid the bears, Kelsey and his crew have found a way to get closer to them - in a rundown cabin on the shores of Button Bay. After a sudden storm means an overnight stay for the group, the dilapidated shack is the only thing between them and waves of migrating polar bears. Summer is coming to an end in Polar Bear Town, and belugas whales are on the move. Now, only the locals and polar bears remain, and there's plenty to do before the onset of fall. Dennis and Andrew are on a treacherous journey to find an uninhabited island where bears and belugas are rumored to be found in abundance. Kelsey and Karine fly to a remote camp on the hunt for bears that have little human contact. Travelling to a remote lodge on the fringes of Hudson Bay to observe these wild bears in their native habitat, they have to be ready for anything when they come face-to-face with a group of these dangerously unpredictable bears, miles from any help. Renowned polar bear scientist Robert Rockwell ventures deep into the heart of polar bear country in search of bear DNA while conservation officers release Big Bear from polar bear jail and helicopter him back into the wild. Finally, as the days grow shorter, a local couple takes to the high seas in hopes of incorporating bears and belugas into their unique wedding ceremony.
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Smithsonian Channel premiered "The Big Exodus," the Season 2 finale of POLAR BEAR TOWN on Wednesday, December 6, 2017 at 8pm ET/PT. Summer is coming to an end in Manitoba, and a new struggle for survival begins for the polar bears and town locals. One pregnant bear is desperately seeking food to carry her through winter in her birthing den, while Churchill's guides are also working hard to find a unique tourist spot that will give them a leg up on their competitors. But they're not the only locals with money on their minds. The town's largest employer is on the verge of shutting down, putting jobs, and the community's future, in jeopardy.