"learning about the dangers in life"

Popular Little Guys
Spring cubs may very well be the most popular reason photographers and families come to visit the bears of the Sanctuary. Yes, these small furry little balls are often the key character in many children's books and cute brown bear cub antics are one of the favorite items a film maker tries to catch on film.

Each season we host many clients all requesting the opportunity to photograph magazine quality type portraits of the cubs.

"Observing mom"

It is common during our hikes into the Grizzly Sanctuary to witness sows busy teaching her little cubs the art of survival in the Sanctuary. Sows will generally have two cubs and it is not uncommon to see three cubs busy following mom.

Protected from the heavy snow falls and deep in the many bear dens of Katmai National Park mother bears shiver off the frigid cold temperatures of rugged Alaskan winters and give birth to 1-4 tiny immature little cubs.

"Wondering about the Sanctuary"

"A baby bear watches intently as mom digs for clams"

"Learning his status among the bears of the Sanctuary"

"Keeping a alert eye on danger"

At birth these newly born critters have little hair and weigh only about half a kilogram. The little cubs snuggle against their mothers fur for warmth and periodically suckle her fat rich milk for nourishment.

The tiny bears eyes won't open for at least three weeks. When their eyes do open all they will see is their mothers fur and a dimly lit den and rambunctious littler mates. This life in the den will remain stable with little changes for another few months.

By late April to middle May nourished from their mothers milk these cubs are gaining size and strength and are anxious to leave the den. At this time the mother bear will emerge from the confines of the den with her cubs for early in life exploration. At this time the mother bear is sluggish from a long winter and wants to eat.

Over the next few weeks with cubs at her side she ventures further and further from the den often returning to it for sleep. Mother bears are very focused on raising their cubs and yet many cubs will never grow up to be adult bears. Other large male bears play a factor in the deaths of the cubs. Mother bears will often take their cubs to remote areas or areas than may not hold the most productive food sources but offers more protection for the growth of her cubs into adulthood.

If the mother grizzly is successful in raising her cubs they will sometimes stay with her from approx. 1 1/2 to 3 1/2 years of age. At this time the young adult bear will separate from the mother and start his own life in the Grizzly sanctuary.

The grizzly Sanctuary has a very healthy population of bears. In fact the highest to be found anywhere in the world. Here there is a unique blend of food, shelter and plenty of open free country. The Sanctuary has many mountains ranges, vast meadows , unexplored valleys, wide bays, rivers, ocean coastlines, high country lakes , plenty of brush and heavy timber regions all essential in a healthy population of grizzly bears.

If You Want to Go Contact: scott@thewildz.com