Snowmobilers get up close with polar bear in Labrador

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

Edwin Clark,Neko Dyson and two friendsspent about half an hour near abear 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 Dysonapproachingthe 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 Eastertrip to Batteauwith 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 growna newrespect 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.