The Brown Bears of Admiralty Island
Our group from the Delphinus spends a beautiful day at Pack Creek near the northern end of Admiralty Island. Hermit Stan Price lived here for many years, protecting the bears who fished for salmon in front of his wilderness home. Stan is gone now, but the bears are still protected. Access is strictly regulated by permit from the U.S. Forest Service. Humans are permitted only in certain areas.
For the most part, the bears are a long way from our cameras. This image of two bears tussling over salmon fishing grounds is made with a borrowed Canon 600mm lens. For the most part the bears practice "studied indifference," carefully avoiding one another. On this hot Alaska day, many choose to swim in the cool creek waters. We enjoy their antics with binoculars.
Finally, a sow and two cubs amble close enough for our cameras, in this case a 400mm Nikon lens. The cubs stop along the way for some playful tussling. (Note: this photo is NOT sharp.)
After some time on the beach, the sow and cubs return, once again coming close to our cameras. Here the sow is reflected in waters at high tide.
One of the cubs dutifully follows Mom, but finds the water a bit deep.
Below: a second sow and two cubs approaches our first sow and cubs, who stand on their hind legs at the approach of the other bears.
