Bear with a Fish

Description

During a trip to Alaska, Dad photographed bears catching and feasting on salmon at the remote Anan Creek Wildlife Viewing Site.  To reach the park, you must take a floatplane or boat.

The salmon run up stream to spawn every June through August.  The bears, eagles, and other carnivores know an easy meal awaits them near the falls of Anan Creek. 

The U.S. Forest Service built a viewing platform so people could watch the fishing bears in relative safety.  The bears out number the people.  In fact, the rangers, outfitted with rifles, escort people to and from the platform on the half-mile trail just to make sure there are no bear-human encounters.

This particular bear was a skilled fisherman.  Unfortunately the other bears knew this guy could catch their meal. They’d wait until this bear had a salmon and then steal it.