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41 images Created 3 Jan 2020

Brown Bears

Not everyone would want to be up close and personal with one of the world’s largest living terrestrial carnivores, but the time I spent photographing brown bears on the coast of Katmai National Park in Alaska was nothing short of exhilarating. Salmon and other fish that live in the rivers and the tidal basins are a critical component of the Alaskan brown bears diet, and this rich food source is an important factor in their large size. We spent seven days plying the coast of Katmai National Park, anchoring where streams entered the ocean, and hiking up the rivers to observe and photograph the bears. “It would be fitting, I think, if among the last man-made tracks on earth would be found the huge footprints of the great brown bear.” – Earl Fleming
Prince.
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  • Brown bears are very graceful swimmers.  Photo DSC_0433
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  • At low tide Brown bears will fish for flat fish in the tidal basins.  When the tide comes in, the bears switch to salmon in the river.   Photo DSC_0860
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  • Being close to their mother not only provides protection for the cubs, but it a time that they learn survival skills such as how to hunt, fish and forage.  The Brown Bear is one of the most omnivorous animals in the world and has been recorded as consuming the greatest variety of foods of any bear.  DSC_0771
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  • A sow, with her two-year-old cubs, is checking out a bear that might be a threat.  Even at the age of two, the cubs stay close together and near their mother.  Photo DSC_0570
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  • When I was photographing, the bears diet was almost exclusively fish.  I call this photo fish farts.  Photo DSC_1133
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  • The cubs keep close to each other almost all the time.  Photo DSC_1052
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  • This sow had cubs nearby and was checking us out.  Photo DSC_5811
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  • Bashful cub.  Photo DSC_1247
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  • Pledge bear.  She had two cubs that were nearby playing in the rocks.  I thought she might be giving thanks for the break.  Photo DSC_1604
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  • Is this a modest bear?  Photo DSC_5991
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  • Brown bears use their powerful claws to dig for roots and small mammals when the fish are not spawning.  Photo DSC_6227
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  • Always on the lookout for a morsel.  Photo DSC_6232
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  • This gives a whole new meaning to giving lip.  Photo DSC_6259
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  • Sow with her two-year-old cubs.  Photo DSC_6521
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  • Eye contact during a special moment.  DSC_6573
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  • Walking just a few feet from us, this bear provided a good opportunity for a closeup.  Photo DSC_6675
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  • This bear had frightened some of the fish into the shallows and is about to turn to have its lunch.  Photo DSC_6719
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  • The explosive power of a bear can be viewed when it is fishing in deep water.    Photo DSC_6748
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  • What?  Me worry?  Sometimes bears just look cute.  Photo DSC_6850
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  • Have you ever tried running in four feet of water?  Brown bears are very good at it.  Photo DSC_6760
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  • The cubs are checking out a nearby bear.  Mom does not seem to be concerned.  Photo DSC_ 6861
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  • The claws of the bears are very useful in digging the dens that they use for hibernation.  Photo DSC_6872
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  • We were between these cubs and their mother.  It was a tense moment, but it worked out well.  Photo DSC_6900
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  • Big paws.  Photo DSC_6915
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  • The water is very clear, and the bears are able to see fish on the bottom of the river.  Photo DSC_6918
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  • The clarity of the water added to the beauty of the moment.  Photo DSC_7203
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  • This bear swam by us looking for fish.  Photo DSC_7318
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  • Cubs checking us out.  Although the same age, the larger cub is the dominant one and gets to eat first.  This is a good example of the effect of nutrition on size.  Photo DSC_6962
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  • When you turn around and you see this looking at you, it gets your attention.  Photo DSC_7808
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  • More than once we had close encounters with bears coming through the high grass.  We would freeze in place and the bear would go around us.  Photo DSC_7811
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  • Passing just a few feet away in the river, this sow gave us a good closeup look.  Photo DSC_7824
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  • These two big guys are waiting for fish in the rapids.  Normally solitary, Brown bears will gather rather closely in numbers at good spawning sites.  They tolerate each other, but don’t get too close to one another.  Photo DSC_7897
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  • The bears move with ease over uneven rocky terrain. Photo DSC_8872
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  • Negotiating the rock at the edge of the river requires an occasional big step.  Photo DSC_7987
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  • All four feet on one rock, an example of how agile these bears are.  Photo DSC_8885
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  • This little bear has just finished a fish meal and is checking on the location of other nearby bears.  For their safety, smaller bears will move away from larger bears.  Photo DSC_8931
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  • Glaucous-winged gulls hang out near bears, especially when the bears are eating a fish.  The gulls are happy to clean up any scraps that the bears leave behind.  Photo DSC_9162
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  • As winter approaches bears get ready for hibernation by going into a state of hyperphagia--a time when the bears have a ravenous appetite to pack on as much fat as possible to get through the winter.  They fish constantly.  Photo DSC_9098
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