While testing a DJI M30 drone over sea ice for a potential purchase, local residents told me about a fresh bowhead whale carcass nearby. I had never seen one before — especially not the remains of a whale harvested for subsistence by an Alaska Native community — so I launched the drone to investigate.
I quickly located the carcass and observed it from above, but with the battery running low, I turned the drone toward the home point. On the return flight, something unexpected caught my eye — a small opening in the sea ice. I flew overhead and zoomed in using the long lens (approximately 700–1300mm equivalent).
That’s when I saw them: three polar bears gathered at the hole. At first, I assumed they were waiting to ambush a seal. But I later learned they had broken through the sea ice to reach the head of the whale, likely trapped beneath the surface. The scene was a stark reminder of the raw life-and-death struggle that defines the Arctic — predators taking advantage of a rare and critical food source in a frozen, unforgiving environment.
The image was taken from over 240 feet above to ensure the bears were not disturbed. The flight took place in uncontrolled airspace, with landowner awareness, and followed FAA guidelines for recreational drone use. I have since completed the FAA’s TRUST certification and remain committed to ethical practices in all my wildlife photography.
