Alaska Adventure 2008 Brown Bear
The Brown Bear (ursus arctos) occur throughout all of Alaska. Some people refer to the brown bear and the grizzly as if they are different species. According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, they are the same species. The term "brown bear" is commonly used to refer to the members of this species found in coastal areas where salmon is the primary food source. Brown bear found inland and in northern habitats are often called "grizzlies".
The bears that were photographed in this gallery are the "brown bear". They live along the coastline where their primary food sources are grass "sedges" and berries, clams from the tidal flats and salmon as they come in from the ocean to spawn. We were fortunate to photograph bears in an area that supplied all the main sources of the bears diet.
We were able to photograph by actual count, 28 different bears. This included males, females and cubs. As in the black bear family where there are several different color phases, the "brown bear" also have very different color phases. We photographed bears that ranged from very blond, to silver to a rich brown color. They ranged in sizes from 4 month old cubs, 2 year old cubs, sows with cubs, single sows and even some male bears. According to our guide, the larger male bears were about 9 feet tall and would weigh up to 1100 lbs. before going into hibernation this fall.
The salmon run had just started while we were there and we had the good fortune to see as many as 6 bears at one time, all chasing salmon in the mouth of Shelter Creek. Shelter Creek is one of many such creeks that flow of the main land. The enormous tides (up to 24' twice a day, provided miles of mud flats at low tide where the bears dug for clams. As many as a dozen bears were seen at the same time on these mud flats.
All in all, this had to be one of the best bear photo shoots that I have personally ever experienced. Six photographers took an estimated 28,00 exposures in seven days.
Read MoreThe bears that were photographed in this gallery are the "brown bear". They live along the coastline where their primary food sources are grass "sedges" and berries, clams from the tidal flats and salmon as they come in from the ocean to spawn. We were fortunate to photograph bears in an area that supplied all the main sources of the bears diet.
We were able to photograph by actual count, 28 different bears. This included males, females and cubs. As in the black bear family where there are several different color phases, the "brown bear" also have very different color phases. We photographed bears that ranged from very blond, to silver to a rich brown color. They ranged in sizes from 4 month old cubs, 2 year old cubs, sows with cubs, single sows and even some male bears. According to our guide, the larger male bears were about 9 feet tall and would weigh up to 1100 lbs. before going into hibernation this fall.
The salmon run had just started while we were there and we had the good fortune to see as many as 6 bears at one time, all chasing salmon in the mouth of Shelter Creek. Shelter Creek is one of many such creeks that flow of the main land. The enormous tides (up to 24' twice a day, provided miles of mud flats at low tide where the bears dug for clams. As many as a dozen bears were seen at the same time on these mud flats.
All in all, this had to be one of the best bear photo shoots that I have personally ever experienced. Six photographers took an estimated 28,00 exposures in seven days.
The Alaska grizzly is generally referred to as "brown bear" when it lives along the Alaska coastline. Their main food sources are grass, berries, clams and salmon.
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