Katmai Terrane

 

About This Blog

Bears. Salmon. Volcanoes. Wilderness. Culture. These are the terranes of Katmai. Each is distinct, but in combination these features create a place like no other. Read about the uniqueness of Katmai in this blog.

Story Behind the Bear Jam Photo

February 23, 2016 Posted by: Michael Fitz

Nine bears can be seen in this photo taken from the Lower River Wildlife Viewing Platform in early July 2010. What were they doing there and what were the circumstances that brought them together? This photo tells a story of hunger, instinct, and survival.

 

Why National Parks Can't Ignore Individual Animals

January 20, 2016 Posted by: Michael Fitz

A recent Yellowstone Science article describes how a focus on individual animals limits our ability to preserve wildlife populations, but this is not true. Naming an animal, referring to its individuality, or connecting with it isn’t a weakness of the human condition or near-sighted. We must recognize the role of the individual in wildlife management, conservation, and especially in public appreciation.

 

Recent Bear Deaths at Brooks River

November 23, 2015 Posted by: Michael Fitz and Jeanne Roy

Bearcam 2015 ended with startling deaths that highlighted the harsh realities of a bear’s world. The death of two bears, a young cub and an adult male, offered the opportunity to learn from events that people rarely have the opportunity to observe and study.

 

Collaring and Handling Bears for the Changing Tides Project

September 02, 2015 Posted by: Rebecca Paterson

Tranquilizing wild animals requires considerable skill, especially in remote locations.

 

Late Night at Brooks Falls

August 31, 2015 Posted by: Tori Anderson

From 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. June 15 to August 15, the platforms and boardwalks at Brooks Falls are closed. In order to better understand how bears use the falls when no humans are present, I assisted Brooks Camp’s bear monitor, Leslie Skora, with an overnight monitoring session from 10:30 p.m. - 12:30 a.m., then again from 4 to 7 a.m.

 

Through the Lens: A Photojournalist and the Changing Tides Project Part 2

August 17, 2015 Posted by: Kaiti Chritz

Climbing out of my tent at 5:30 a.m. revealed an absolutely stunning morning. The water-striped mud flats of the low tide in Hallo Bay reflected the morning sun and silhouetted clamming bears off in the distance. As we hiked along the beach to the observation spot, my camera gear, tripod, and large lens made it’s presence known on my back. I wasn’t going to regret not bringing something with me on this once in a lifetime opportunity.

 

Through the Lens: A Photojournalist and the Changing Tides Project

July 24, 2015 Posted by: Kaiti Chritz

Before today, I had never laid eyes on a brown bear. My job today? Fly out to the coast of Katmai National Park to take photos and video of the team that has been collaring brown bears as a part of the Changing Tides project.

 

People, Platforms, and Bears

July 21, 2015 Posted by: Michael Fitz

Near Brooks Falls, a complex of elevated boardwalks and wildlife viewing platforms stand in the forest. Viewed from a distance, or even from the perspective of a person standing on the walkway, it may seem that the walkways eliminate our impact on bears. While the boardwalks and viewing platforms have substantially reduced bear-human conflicts near the falls, they haven’t eliminated them. Sometimes a bit of restraint and sacrifice, on our part, are needed to help bears.

 

Did That Just Happen? Stories from a Bear Researcher’s Trip to Hallo Bay

July 17, 2015 Posted by: Joy Erlenbach

As I prepare to head back out to Hallo Bay I’ve been rereading my field notes and reminiscing on the highlights from my first trip. Watching bears in Hallo Bay has shown me that there’s always more to learn.

 

402 Returns with Four Cubs

July 09, 2015 Posted by: Michael Fitz

402, a well known adult female, returned to Brooks River yesterday with a litter of not one, not two, not three, but FOUR spring cubs. 402, therefore, faces a huge challenge. Will she be able to meet it?

 

Where's Ted?

July 03, 2015 Posted by: Mark Kaufman

Each summer, we expect to see bears at Brooks River, like family at Thanksgiving. Sometimes though, well known bears don’t come back.

 

Death of a Bear

July 01, 2015 Posted by: Michael Fitz

One year ago, bearcam favorite 130 Tundra was found dead at the cut bank along Brooks River. Her death provided another example that bears face significant risk in their daily lives. What causes the death of a bear?

 

Bigger is Better?

June 10, 2015 Posted by: Michael Fitz

Bears in Katmai grow large, very large. For example, adult males average 700-900 pounds (272-408 kg) in mid summer! By October, well fed, large-bodied males can tip the scales above 1000 pounds (454 kg). Why do male bears grow so large? What advantages does large size confer to male bears? Competition for food and mates may provide answers.

 

To Name or Not to Name?

May 07, 2015 Posted by: Michael Fitz

Bears at Brooks River are assigned numbers for monitoring, management, and identification purposes. Inevitably, some bears acquire nicknames from staff and these nicknames are shared with the public, but naming wild animals is not without controversy. Is it appropriate to name wild animals?

 

2014 Bearcam Year In Review

December 17, 2014 Posted by: Michael Fitz

2014 proved to be an exciting year for fans of the Brooks River bears. Let’s recap the drama and events captured on the Brooks River. These are my choices for 2014’s most notable bearcam moments. Which story resonated most with you?

 

Chasing Bigger Bears

October 07, 2014 Posted by: Michael Fitz

Who's on bottom of the bear hierarchy? Young subadult bears, like bear 500, that's who. On Sunday, October 5, part of an extended chase was seen on the River Watch bearcam. 435 Holly’s adopted yearling chased subadult bear 500 while Holly’s spring cub and Holly herself tried to keep up.

 

Death of Bear 130

July 08, 2014 Posted by: Michael Fitz

July 1 was a busy day at Brooks Camp. Late in the evening, while many rangers were still dealing with 402’s yearling cub in a tree at Brooks Lodge, another ranger discovered a dead bear near the cut bank on the Brooks River.

 

The Last Bear Killed at Brooks Camp

January 29, 2014 Posted by: Michael Fitz

In the Brooks Camp Visitor Center, a bear pelt hangs in the rafters. This pelt belonged to a young female bear nicknamed Sister. After obtaining food and equipment from people, Sister became the last bear destroyed at Brooks Camp. This is a story of mistakes and loss. It teaches a lesson that we should never learn the hard way again.

 

Birth of a Brown Bear

January 22, 2014 Posted by: Michael Fitz

Brown bear cubs are from 1/3 to 1/10 of that predicted for female mammals of comparable size. Why would brown bears give birth to such small and vulnerable offspring? Like many natural phenomenon, no one knows for sure but biologists have some ideas.

 

2013 Bearcam Year in Review

December 31, 2013 Posted by: Michael Fitz

It was a great year on the bearcam with many memorable moments. Who can forget bear 469’s attempt to persevere through injury, the playfulness of young and well fed bears, or the care mothers took to protect their cubs? The insight gained into the lives of bears and the intimate moments we were able to observe dominate this bearcam year in review.

 

Giving Bears Space

September 04, 2013 Posted by: Michael Fitz

Every once and a while, you may see people on the floating bridge while a bear is nearby. The people in the photo above were not behaving appropriately for the unique bear viewing opportunities at Brooks Camp. The wildness of the bears and the wonderful experiences for people at Brooks Camp is dependent on everyone giving bears space.

 

Bear Hibernation

November 21, 2013 Posted by: Michael Fitz

One adaptation that has evolved in some mammals is hibernation. Hibernation is a state of dormancy that allows animals to avoid periods of famine. It takes many forms in mammals, but is particularly remarkable in bears.

 

The Resilient Bear

July 14, 2013 Posted by: Michael Fitz

Watching the bearcams on explore.org gives anyone with internet access an opportunity to experience the dynamics of a bear’s world. We get to observe the playfulness of cubs, the intimacy of mating, and the satiation of hunger when a bear eats a salmon. However, when we watch the cams, we will also see some unpleasant aspects of the bears’ world.

 

Last updated: April 14, 2015

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