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Chuck Schneebeck Photography

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Chuck Schneebeck Photography

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  • “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
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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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  • 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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  • Have you ever tried running in four feet of water?  Brown bears are very good at it.  Photo DSC_6760
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  • Brown bears are very graceful swimmers.  Photo DSC_0433
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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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  • The cubs are checking out a nearby bear.  Mom does not seem to be concerned.  Photo DSC_ 6861
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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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  • 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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  • This bear swam by us looking for fish.  Photo DSC_7318
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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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  • Notice how the bear is not looking at its feet but is staring at a potential snack.
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  • Gotcha.  The rush pays off for the bear.  Now it just has to clamp down and not let the fish escape.
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  • Time to look elsewhere.  The bear has the best luck when it is able to scan the full width of the river.  Often fish are moving either upstream or down.  This can make them visible from above the water.  If there is not a fish in the pool, then the next thing to do is to see if there is a fish visible from above the stream surface.
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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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  • Walking just a few feet from us, this bear provided a good opportunity for a closeup.  Photo DSC_6675
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  • Is this a modest bear?  Photo DSC_5991
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  • As the bear tightens its bite on the fish, roe is forced out.  Notice the claws that can be used if necessary to keep the fish from escaping.
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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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  • 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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  • The bears move with ease over uneven rocky terrain. Photo DSC_8872
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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 claws of the bears are very useful in digging the dens that they use for hibernation.  Photo DSC_6872
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  • What?  Me worry?  Sometimes bears just look cute.  Photo DSC_6850
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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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  • 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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  • This sow had cubs nearby and was checking us out.  Photo DSC_5811
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  • The cubs keep close to each other almost all the time.  Photo DSC_1052
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  • Bashful cub.  Photo DSC_1247
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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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  • Eye contact during a special moment.  DSC_6573
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  • The prize is in sight.
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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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  • Big paws.  Photo DSC_6915
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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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  • Passing just a few feet away in the river, this sow gave us a good closeup look.  Photo DSC_7824
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  • Sow with her two-year-old cubs.  Photo DSC_6521
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  • There is movement in the water on the far side of the river.  It is worth a try to check it out, but there is no time to waste.
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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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  • The clarity of the water added to the beauty of the moment.  Photo DSC_7203
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  • Power and intensity
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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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