More answers to your questions:

Did they have any "badly behaved" bears in captivity while you were there?

I had to go into town today and I was told that a polar bear was just tagged and brought to the "jail" for bad behavior, but she didn't know what that behavior was. He or she was probably just too close to people.



How often do they have to capture and release such bears?

They can capture one hundred or more each year during the times when they are on land.



Also, how long did Dr. Foo Foo and his friend George swim in the Hudson Bay?

After five minutes they wanted to get out.



We were wondeirng if it is colder in the tundra region than the forest region. You looked colder in the picture.

You are right! It was much colder in the tundra region. It is much more open to the wind. In the forest the trees help to shield us from the wind.



Did you have to practice tree coring before you did it on a real tree?

Yes, we did have the opportunity to core some trees near the Churchill Northern Studies Center before we went to our science site.



You mentioned seeing an arcitc hare and that polar bears live near Churchill. What adaptations to they have that help them survive in the cold artic temperatures?

A thick layer of fat under skin, called blubber, acts to insulate the polar bear and reduce heat loss. The polar bear also has a second, opaque eye lid which reduces glare, acting in the same way that sunglasses work for us.
They also have small, bumps on the surface of their feet which increase friction and stop them slipping while walking on ice. Aswell as this this their feet are very large in order to increase surface area to stop them sinking in the snow, much like a camels, and help their swimming capabilities.



Taken from http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_adaptations_does_the_polar_bear_have_that_help_it_survive_in_its_environment



Does Churchill have the same kind of trees that we have here?
Churchill actually has only four different kinds of trees. White spruce, black spruce, larch and balsam poplar. Connecticut has some of the same trees and many more. Also, some of the trees that grow in CT appear here as shrubs.

A better response from a CT tree hobbiest:
In response to the question if CT has the same kind of trees: Larch and black spruce are native to CT (although hard to find in the wild), the white spruce is planted in CT quite a bit (as an ornamental), and balsam poplar, although not native, can be found in CT.
Thank you Mr. K!


Do they need special adaptations to survive?
Here are just some adaptations trees need in order to survive this cold, windy, dry climate:

shallow, wide roots - because the tree's roots can't penetrate the permafrost

needles - which can be better for retaining water and help keep the tree more aerodynamic in high winds

flexibility - some trees, especially the larch, can bend in the wind and can bend rather far without breaking

Can you research other ways that trees might adapt to this climate?





Do you see evidence of animals living in the area when you are out in the forest or on the tundra?
We have seen lots of birds, especially gray jays. We have also seen plenty of goose scat and an owl pellet. I have also seen holes in trees that might have been made by insects or birds that are trying to find insects.





Miss J. found some goose scat. You can tell what an animal eats by looking at it closely. Many scientists do that to learn more about animals.








What is your favorite thing to do at the research station?

My favorite thing to do at the CNSC is to go up into the dome and watch the Northern Lights at night. Last night I just happened to wake up in the middle of the night. I looked out the window and the lights were SO BRIGHT! I snuck up into the dome to watch them. I can't take a video though, because I would need more light for my video camera.





Do lynx live in the churchill area?

Yes, but we haven't seen one yet.





How old is the oldest tree you have seen?

I have seen forests with trees that are hundreds of years old. The trees are not very tall or wide though. The rings are always very small. Why do you think that is?





How many people are with you on your adventure?

There are eleven of us that came from the United States. There are plenty of scientists up here also. Three scientists are working with us. Mr. Kershaw just arrived today. Mr. Mamet has been teaching us how to do our science work and Miss Basler is keeping us safe by watching out for polar bears as we work. There are other scientists at the CNSC that are studying polar bears, caribou, and the decomposition (rotting) of plants.



Where does Dr. Foo Foo (Poley) sleep?

In the top bunk bed. He is having so much fun!



How did you decide on the name, Dr. Foo Foo?
I asked my students to come up with names and then vote on them. I have a feeling that the name came from a book.



Can the northern lights be more than one color?

Yes, they can be many colors. There are different gases at different heights in the air that create the different colors.





Have you seen permafrost and if so, what does it look like?

We haven't seen any yet but we see lots of land forms above the permafrost, and we know it is under there. We have seen photos of it that Mr. Mamet has shown us. It can look like ice or it can just look like soil (but it would be very cold soil).





Is that insect a caterpillar and pupa?

Yes, and I am hoping that someone can look up the species. I wish I knew what it was eating at the time, but I didn't notice. That can be a clue to finding out what kind of caterpillar it is. I found the pupa in a white spruce tree though. The pupa might not even be from the same kind of caterpillar. There are teachers in Louisiana on a science expedition like mine. They are studying caterpillars and said they might try to help me identify it.