Two Brown Bears Facing Off in Shallow River, Katmai
Katmai National Park and Preserve
Two adult brown bears square off in shallow river water in Katmai. Close encounters between adults are common at prime fishing spots along Katmai's rivers, where the density of bears forces constant negotiation over position and catch. Most of it is noise and posture rather than real combat, but the tension is real. Katmai holds one of the densest concentrations of brown bears on the planet thanks to the annual sockeye salmon runs and the intact lake-and-river system that supports them. Watching two mature bears work each other out in the shallows is one of the defining experiences of spending time here. Brown bears, Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska. Ursus arctos. Photo © copyright by Carl Donohue.