ALASKA GRIZZLIES, LAKE CLARK NP, AUG 2011

D3s, 600 4,0, f4,0, 1/800, +0,33, ISO 2000

"Jaws, teeth, claws, splashing white water, fish in the air, pumping red blood spray".... 

these were my ambitious and vivid visions for this year`s visit to Lake Clark NP Alaska, and my major focus here was simply : Shooting grizzlies fishing salmon. I was there 2 years ago as well, doing exactly the same thing, and had (at least in my own eyes) great results with that grizzly/salmon interaction in the mouth of Silver Salmon Creek at the east coast of the Alaska Peninsula. This time we thought to have timed our visit perfectly with the peak of Silver salmon-"migration" up the river, and accordingly : expectations were high. 

However : You never know with nature .... and this year`s rush of Silver salmon was of course ........."all times late" !! There was practically no bear/salmon interaction in SSC at all.   

However, there was a lot of bears around, and we had some great (and very close !) experiences with them. Grizzlies are basicly peaceful animals, but there are some simple rules to be followed, like : 

1) Don`t surprise them, 2) Be careful with females with small cubs, and 3) Don`t approach males with larger prey. I `m usually pretty cool with bears, but being 2,5 m away from female with cubs without even pepperspray available was ..... adrenalin !!

To find some bear-salmon action our professional hosts and guides David & Rick took us on boat along the coast down to the mouth of Shelter Creek, which is a small creek with very shallow waters and a certain concentration of Chum Salmon. The action in the river is closely connected to low / lower tide and with a certain amount of patience and careful approach ... we had some splashing chases up and down the river.

Thanks to Bent Olsen for great preparations and thanks to all my photographer mates for great company !

In this blog I show some bear photos from Silver Salmon Creek and Shelter Creek. Later we went to Denali and Kenai. Awesome !! I even took some landscape pictures !!! (yes, it`s true !). 

Coming up soon, stay tuned !!

BEARS FROM SILVER SALMON CREEK :

The bears has spotted a fish in my direction and is coming in splashing leaps right towards me

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The salmon escaped

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At low tide the bears go clamming,- digging for clams in the wet sand- and mudbanks.

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Clamming bear at low tide

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Waiting for the salmon ..... that didn`t show up

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Grazing female. In average 70 of a grizzly`s menu is grass and plantfood. 

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Small cub suckling

D3s, 200-400 4,0, 400, f6,3, 1/1600, ISO 800 

Grizzly cub

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Half grown grizzly cub looking for mama

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BEARS FROM SHELTER CREEK :

The splash of the escaping salmon can be seen to the left

D3s, 600 4,0, f5,6, 1/400, ISO 1000

A focused moment

D3s, 600 4,0, f4,0, 1/640, ISO 2000

The salmon escaped.... again

D3s, 600 4,0, f4,0, 1/500, ISO 2000

D3s, 600 4,0, f4,0, 1/640, ISO 2000

D3s, 600 4,0, f4,0, 1/800, ISO 2000

The repeated splashes from the escaping salmon`s tail can be seen to the right

D3s, 600 4,0, f4,0, 1/800, ISO 2000

Chum Salmon

D3s, 600 4,0, f5,6, 1/1600, +0,33, ISO 800

Chum Salmon

D3s, 600 4,0, f5,6, 1/ 4000, ISO 1000