Loading...
Grizzly Bear
Ursus arctos
The Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos) was formerly a resident across much of the western United States. Also known as Brown Bear, this species is now restricted to a few national parks within the lower 48 states, but may still be frequently encountered in parts of Canada and Alaska. The images on this page were all taken along the Chilkoot River, in Haines, Alaska, in August, 2008 with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 500mm F/4 L IS lens. A 70-200mm F/2.8 L IS lens was used to some of the shots. Most of these images are shots of a 4-year old bear which wandered down to the river in the late afternoon. There were several fishermen along the river, all of whom simply reeled in their lines and backed away from the river to allow the bear the right-of-way. An Alaska game and fish officer was also in the area to assure the people and the bear remained separated.
The bear was watching several fish as it walked along the river's edge.
Perhaps the fishing is better if you get in the river with the fish!
Oh well...let's try walking along the edge again.
A glance at the photographer who was looking through a long lens from atop a small bridge over the river.
The bear found some fish parts where an angler had cleaned some fish, so it had a small meal in this shot.
Maybe the view is better from atop this rock.
In this view the bear is walking along the edge of the river toward some campers and fisherman.
A second bear walked down to the opposite side of the river.
This second bear seemed more interested in the ripe salmon berries growing along the banks of the river than in the fishing prospects.
The next nine shots show a blonde Grizzly Bear near Nome, Alaska, in June, 2012. Grizzlys can show a wide variation of color but this was the first blonde one I had ever seen. The shots were taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and an EF 500mm F/4 L IS lens and 1.4X extender. We were 25 miles outside of Nome on a gravel road when we encountered this bear.