Watch an Unlikely Encounter Between a Sled Dog and a Polar Bear

Two wildlife photographers waited anxiously from a distance to see the result of a close encounter between a dog and a polar bear.

When veterinary nurse Brittany Semeniuk went to Manitoba, Canada, in November, she and her vet partner were looking to photograph polar bears. They visited a place called Mile 5 Sanctuary, outside the town of Churchill.

There Semniuk saw a chained-up sled dog—and a massive polar bear was approaching it.

"I had no idea what was going to happen," Semeniuk says. "I was worried for the dog."

But then, the bear started playing with the dog. It began nudging the canine with its nose and poking it with its paws; the dog even appeared to be in on the bear's playful game.

This seemingly benign behavior continued for about 15 minutes. After that, the bear walked away to mosey around looking for food, leaving

DON'T MISS THE REST OF THIS STORY!
Create a free account to continue and get unlimited access to hundreds of Nat Geo articles, plus newsletters.

Create your free account to continue reading

No credit card required. Unlimited access to free content.
Or get a Premium Subscription to access the best of Nat Geo - just $19
SUBSCRIBE

Read This Next

'World’s worst shipwreck' was bloodier than we thought
World’s first ultrasounds of wild manta rays reveal a troubling truth
Titanic was found during secret Cold War Navy mission

Go Further

Subscriber Exclusive Content

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet