Views of Sequim, the Olympic Peninsula. . .and beyond
This was one of the “diver” bears. There was one family lineage that actually dive down, swim under water, and catch fish that way. Each time he finally came after 30 seconds or so, if he didn’t have a fish, he’d shake his head like a dog.
AND all those salmon! These brown bears really didn’t take much notice of us humans…so it’s easy to get complacent. But one swipe of those paws–yikes!
We were parked not far off shore and had just opened a large thermos with stew made by our chef Barbara, when this guy showed up sniffing in our direction.
It was REALLY good stew!
The water was beautiful and often creamy white from all of the calcium in minerals in the run off. This was Diver Bear (we named all the bears we photographed!) She was unusual because she dove into the water and swam underneath to hunt the salmon. She would stay under for close to a minute. The local guides said only she and her offspring have been seen to hunt his way. Other bears watch for the fish on top then dive and trap them with their claws.
You can see all of the red fish swimming around him. He actually catches one this time.
He’s pushing it to the ground to gain control. The seagulls seem to know when a bear has caught one and begin swooping down.
The fish is still flipping and flopping wildly.
You could hear the crunching of bones…we were THAT CLOSE! This bear ate it right there on the spot…
On almost every walkable part of shore there was a bear (or three)…
This shot of an adult brown bear boar was taken at Crescent Lake Alaska. Did you know that bears are members of the pig family? That is why males are called boars! I was in a about about 30ft from him. He was much more interested in the Sockeye that were spawning by the tens of thousands all around him.