TRAVELS IN ALASKA
Part Two: Travel In Southwest Alaska
Travel to the remote Southwest of Alaska holds the promise of an untamed wilderness inhabited by the largest brown bears on earth. Katmai National Park, the second leg of my wildlife photography odyssey in Alaska, is reputed to contain the highest density of brown bears on the planet. Photo opportunities of brown bears are guaranteed and the challenge is to create something new.
My stay at Brooks Lodge coincided with the last three days of the bear watching season before the lodge shuts shop for winter. My time there coincided with the run of red salmon and the beautiful autumn colours, so the ingredients were there to try to create some fresh images. The Brown bears (Ursus arctos) living along the southern coast of Alaska feed on salmon throughout the summer up until they are ready to hibernate in the autumn. So by the time I got there, the bears were looking exceedingly well fed.
Alaska is bear country for a reason, they are top of the food chain and they know it. They run faster, swim faster and climb faster than us. Bear safety skills are paramount when exploring Alaska. When you arrive at Brooks Lodge in Katmai, you’re given a short talk on bear safety, as close encounters with brown bears are inevitable.
Alaska is bear country for a reason, they are top of the food chain and they know it. They run faster, swim faster and climb faster than us.
Photos of Brown Bears in Southwest Alaska
For this young male bear only the male red salmon will do
He chases male red salmon with youthful exuberance
Chasing salmon may be like a game for the young male
Fishing for salmon this way can be energy consuming
With maturity comes wisdom and patience for this adult male
Asserting dominance over fishing rights is sometimes necessary
With maturity comes wisdom and patience as well as a full belly
With maturity comes wisdom and patience as well as a full belly
Another adult male fishes for female salmon in the "jacuzzi"
Not the colourful red male salmon for he who knows better
Egg bearing female salmon provide rewarding nutrition
Female bears fish for salmon downriver far away from the males
Spawned out salmon provide a lower risk meal for females
