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<\/a>Brown bear viewing at Indian River, Tenakee Inlet; photo by Fred Cooper<\/p><\/div>\n
On reaching the river we walked out onto the suspension bridge for a clear view down to the tideflats.\u00a0 We indeed saw a bear fishing but after about 20 minutes of hoping for an opportunity to see one closer, I told my friends I had to get back to the boat and that they could come along once they had enough.\u00a0 Two minutes back on the trail I happened to notice some brush moving near the river.\u00a0 It could only be one thing and moments later I could see the brown back of a bear heading my way.\u00a0 It’s head was down and it had not seen me standing nearly paralyzed in the trail.\u00a0 I made the decision to retreat back to where my friends were at the bridge.\u00a0 After informing them that the opportunity to view a brown bear up close was iminent, we all huddled in the center of the suspension bridge hoping if the bear\u00a0wanted to cross the river it\u00a0would be satisfied to wade and not use the foot bridge.\u00a0 Well the bear was right behind me and stopped at the\u00a0end of the bridge.\u00a0 It couldn’t make up its mind what it wanted to do.\u00a0 That was when it noticed some salmon in the riffles under the bridge.\u00a0 That was also when I learned just how fast a bear can move when it wants to.\u00a0 One second it was staring at the salmon, the next instant it was charging into the river and grabbing a salmon in its mouth.\u00a0 Then it waded the stream and walked into the woods to have its salmon snack.\u00a0 We took that cue to make a gracious exit from the bridge and return to the boat harbor.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Young brown bear on the bank of Indian River, Tenakee Inlet; photo by Fred Cooper<\/p><\/div>\n
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Almost anyone who lives in Alaska can recall their first\u00a0or maybe even frequent bear encounters.\u00a0 I count myself in this group and can vividly remember the first time I encountered a bear up close and personal.\u00a0 Looking back on that … Continue reading