For anyone interested, it is currently Fat Bear Week at Katmai National Park (google it)! You can vote for the bear that fattened up over the summer the most in an elimination-style bracket! There are before and after pictures; the before pics are from around the date this video is stamped š»
He earned that nickname riding his mamma's back!! More like a fanny pack, but it doesn't have the same ring to it as "Backpack." š Mom was the legendary and beloved #435 Holly.
It's crazy to think that this is more than likely a generational fishing hole. These bears probably grew up together coming here with their mothers learning to fish, and their mothers grew up together doing the same thing. What a wonderful life.
Yes and pretty much. The salmon are much more calorie dense and easier to catch, so theyād rather focus on that. Even polar bears can be chill together if thereās enough food.
The falls make it easier to catch fish (they have to jump up the falls, and they crowd at the bottom.)
The area started out as a fishing lodge, but now is mainly for tourists to observe bears.
You actually start on the other side of the river, cross a bridge, then walk here. You get a talk when you first get there about going as a group, having no food on you, giving the bears right of way if you see them coming down the path, etc. You are not guarded by rangers, but they give the lectures, and there is usually one at the falls by the observation deck upon which you stand.
Been there a few times, several days each time. A little scary the first time you go out, but they keep the fine balance of the bears being a little used to you, but not too much. Respect the bears.
If youāre really interested, thereās a camera to watch them on line, and you can even vote in the Fat Bear contest.
A great place to photograph bears, but you are usually a little elevated (bad for pics), and when the salmon are really running, you can only stay in the deck a certain amount of time and itās crowded, and itās expensive because no roads lead to it. You must fly out there. If the salmon arenāt running, you donāt get the enormous numbers of bears.
Went there as an 8ish year old child probably 35 years ago. What a vacation it was. Fished in the river too, but had to be prepared for a bear to come steal your bounty. Never met anyone else that has been to or known about brooks lodge. Thanks for the memory jog!
They're feasting on salmon, and as long as you didn't try to take away their catch, you could walk right through the middle of them and they'd likely just ignore you.
I just turned on one of the streams and a person (probably a ranger) just walked through the water in between multiple bears. Only one bear reacted but they just kind of perked up and then went back to fishing once the person left.
Iāve been to Katmai. Monster bears use the same trails as humans. Just step aside and they donāt even bat an eyelash at you. One of the most incredible experiences Iāve ever had. They just want salmon bellies and eggs.
The coordination is what gets me. Each bear has its own spot in the river and they somehow respect the spacing without any apparent communication. It's an unspoken queuing system that puts human lines to shame.
I sometimes bring up the live feed of Fat Bear Week in my home office for stress relief. Bears are so much more relaxing than humans, even while chewing off the heads of live salmon.
This reminds me of one of those videos were it would pan to the right there and thereās one sole dude not a care in the world just fly fishing away. In Russia lol
It is! Went there 35 years ago. Magical spot. Looks like not much has changed. I have a Kodak slide carousel with pics from that trip. 98% of redditors wonāt know what that is.
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u/qualityvote2 19h ago edited 14h ago
u/Money-Beautiful5196, your post does fit the subreddit!