Travel Tales by Afar Replay: Why a Wildlife Biologist Traded Mice for the World's Most Dangerous Predator
When polar bear biologist Alysa McCall was growing up in Kamloops, British Columbia, watching black bears raid fruit trees outside her living room window, she never imagined she'd dedicate her life to their Arctic cousins. But sometimes the most profound career changes happen when you least expect them—like when a world-renowned scientist responds to your "what's the worst that could happen?" email with "Sure. Come over. See you in September."
McCall's journey from studying desert mice to becoming a polar bear researcher took her from the semi-arid landscapes of British Columbia to the frozen sea ice of Hudson Bay, where she learned that conservation isn't just about data—it's about connection, storytelling, and what she calls "big feelings."
Don't miss these unforgettable moments:
- Growing up with black bears as backyard visitors (and banging pots to make them leave)
- The "imposter syndrome" email that changed everything
- Sleeping on a tundra buggy and mistaking a polar bear for a rock
- Getting stranded alone on moving sea ice in -30°F weather
- The mortifying moment of accidentally pointing a shotgun at your helicopter pilot (who later became her husband)
- Holding her first polar bear cub and feeling the weight of conservation responsibility
- Why emotion and storytelling are the key to saving Arctic habitat
- The sobering reality: this polar bear population has dropped from 1,200 to just over 600 bears
The Science Behind the Story: McCall explains why polar bear conservation requires a completely different approach than other wildlife protection—you can't fence sea ice or hire patrols to guard it. Saving polar bears means addressing global climate change, making it one of the most complex conservation challenges on Earth.
Resources:
- Learn more about Polar Bears International
- Discover Churchill, Manitoba as a polar bear viewing destination
- Read the transcript of this episode
- Listen to Alysa McCall's TED talk
Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our other podcasts, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week, and View From Afar, where we spotlight the people and the ideas shaping the future of travel.
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