The Bears - The Grizzly Sanctuary

The Bears of The Pastures and Meadows This is a popular time for wildlife photographers and nature viewers. From middle May to late May and well into the last few days of June the Coastal Brown Bears steadily trickle down from the high country into the protein rich grassy meadows to feed on the sedge grass. At this time of year the big bears are fairly concentrated. This is also a good time to occasionally see sows with their spring cubs although they will be cautious and very protective from the large boars. The meadows are highlighted by mountains still with snow and some of the bays will have glaciers looming in the distance.
Brown Bear Valley		Mother's Protection		Big Bruin
Testing The Waters		Bears And Glaciers		Time To Nurse
Bears in The Rivers, Creeks and Feeding on Salmon The ever popular bears feeding on salmon. You have seen this nature spectacle dozens of times on all the nature channels. From mid July to late August the bears slowly make the transition from the meadows, berry eating in the hills and converge on the shores of the many rivers and streams fishing for salmon here on the Alaskan peninsula. This age old phenomena has been going on for thousands of years and is a great time to photograph the bears. The bears are highly concentrated near the rivers. Expect images involving bears near or in the water or with fish in their mouth.
Skinning Fish			Territorial Dispute	A Fishing Bear
Ole Fishing Hole			Two For Dinner	Tides Bring Fish
Bears Digging on The Tidal Flats This coastal bear act is often some of nature photographers favorite images. For the bear viewing advocate this is a unique view of how this powerful creature uses his enormous paws and massive claws with the ease and dexterity of human fingers. The huge bears first sense and smell the clams , even under water, then excavate the clams crack or pry open with the huge claws or teeth and then consume their contents. This happens at low tide and takes place throughout the entire season. A great opportunity to balance your photography from the meadows and rivers with sand and ocean backdrops.
Chasing Dinner			No Fishing License	Reflections
	The Clam Digger		No Rest For Mom	Walk On The Beach
	Sows and Their Cubs Photographing sows and cubs is one of the most popular time request that is asked of us here at The Grizzly Sanctuary. The truth is photo opportunities of capturing a mother brown bear and her cubs can happen just about anytime from mid May through out the summer and well into late September. From mid May into June features the close proximity of the sow with her cubs being very tight ( the cubs wanting to nurse ) as she forages on sedge grass. This is a great time for the photographer wanting " nursing " images and " greenery " in the photos. Salmon season ( later July through September ) is a great time to see the mother provide for the cubs as she supplies and teaches the survival skill of catching fish to her young. September is also a spectacular time for background colors.
Breakfast Time			Sweet Meadows	Three Little Bears
Baby Bears			Mother's Love	This Or That Way

Additional Information on Seasons of The Bear