Hi and welcome to our weekly Bear Cam blog. We will be publishing this blog every week with a review of the previous weeks Bear Cam highlights. Brought to you by your bear cam Mods, LaniH and GABear. Many of the highlights discussed below can be seen in Explore’s video, This Week at Brooks Falls. You can view it here.
Here we are, halfway through September, and our views at Brooks Falls continue to often look like it is still July! Bears are still catching live fish at the falls area. Why? What is going on? Mike Fitz addressed this in a recent chat:
“This question has an obvious and not-so-obvious answer. Salmon is the obvious answer, but typically fewer bears fish at and near the falls in late summer and fall compared to July. By now, the sockeye salmon migration period has ended and without migrating salmon Brooks Falls is not a productive place to fish. So, what’s keeping the bears at the falls if it’s not sockeye? Here’s the not so obvious answer: silver (aka coho) salmon.
Since I returned to Brooks River last week, I’ve spent 810 minutes watching bears at Brooks Falls (I’d like to spend more time there, but nightfall comes somewhat early at this time of year). During that time, I’ve tallied the number of salmon the bears have caught by species. Nearly eighty percent of the salmon caught have been silver salmon.”
“I counted the bears catching 98 silvers, 17 sockeye, 1 pink, and 7 individual salmon that I weren’t able to identify to species. Averaging 8-12 pounds each, silver salmon offer a big caloric reward for patient bears at the falls. The average sockeye salmon, a species smaller than silvers, contains about 4500 calories fresh from the sea. Therefore, silver salmon can contain much more due to their larger size. The silver salmon also arrived more recently and presumably haven’t spent as much of their energy reserves as the sockeye.
If Brooks Falls were not a productive place to fish then few or no bears would fish there currently. Bears are adaptable and many of the largest adult males have learned to fish Brooks Falls in the fall to take advantage of the bounty brought by this year’s abundant run of late summer silver salmon.”
salmon jumps Brooks falls on September 14 Snapshot by Kathy97
The big boys may have claimed the falls but the lower river has been subadult central this week. Large groups of subadults have been seen in the river snorkeling and playing. On September 11, two subadults were spotted playing for almost half an hour when they were joined by two more subadults for a double play session. Not long after that another joined in and we had 5 subadults in various play sessions.
subadult play session Snapshot by Cam Op Aspire
5 subadults play Snapshot by Cam Op Aspire
subadults snorkel and play Snapshot by Duska
Many bears who went elsewhere to find food in August have returned to the river this week. As of this writing, Adult boars 68, 634, and 856 have been seen on cam.
856 Snapshot by rookie1
634 Popeye Snapshot by LaniH
68 Snapshot by okeydokey
While not positively identified by viewers on the live cam, Mike Fitz got these photos of 89 Backpack at the Falls and on “his” rock on 9/10
89 Backpack on his rock picture by Mike Fitz
89 Backpack picture by Mike Fitz
This week also saw the return of two sows with cubs. 482 Brett has been seen with her 3 coy on the Lower River. This family is quite noticeable as one of the cubs is a very, very light blonde color. All are looking healthy.
482 Brett and coy Snapshot by GreenRiver
We also caught a couple glimpses of 132 and her single cub early this week. Later, we got a good close up look at them as they were on spit road where the 132’s coy tried to get her to play.
132 and coy playing on spit road Snapshot by jwss
There were quite a few interesting 480 Otis highlights this week. One was an encounter between 480 Otis, 755 Scare D Bear, and 151 Walker. 755 Scare D Bear caught a fish and attempted to leave the far pool with it, passing by 480. 480 took exception to this and seems to have lunged and given 755 a bite. Then 151 saw an opportunity to add his two cents and poor 755 Scare D Bear caught a bite on the backside, too!
Another incident involving Otis had him in a brief physical encounter with 151 Walker, standing up and trading swats, over a fish at the island. Walker had been behind Otis in the Jacuzzi, waiting for Otis to catch a fish or leave scraps. When Otis got a fish and took it to the island to eat, Walker’s begging was quite intrusive and the brief battle ensued. It was ended when 32 Chunk moved in and chased 151. 32 appeared about to chase 480 when 856 came running over and chased 32. There was a stand off between 856 and 32 behind the island. 856 then cowboy walked and scent marked the island before leaving the area. Afterward, all bears returned to their normal fishing routines.
480 Otis and 151 Walker fight over a salmon Snapshot by SabraTX
480 Otis also exercised his dominance for a prime fishing spot this week. On Wednesday, he held his place in the Jacuzzi against 68 who was trying to move in. In typical Otis style, he expressed his displeasure with the attempted intrusion audibly and quite loudly. 68 had a few things to say as well and the two of them had quite a duet going for a bit.
480 Otis and 68 argue over who should occupy the jacuczzi Snapshot by squirrely
However, Otis also proved that he knows who is really the boss at the falls. While lying down near the island, back to the falls, enjoying his fish, he became aware of the approach of 856 from behind him. Otis rose (keeping his fish in his mouth) and double-timed it getting out of there, removing any doubt about his ability to run away from danger!
On the evening of September 13, there were some tension filled minutes in the far pool. 32 Chunk decided to enter the far pool when 856 took his catch around the corner of the rock wall to eat. When 856 was finished, 32 Chunk didn’t notice his approach as he had his head in the water snorkeling. 856 ran at 32 and they got into a bit of a kerfuffle.
856 and 32 Chunk kerfuffle Snapshot by Kathy W
32 Chunk then found himself between a rock (856) and an even bigger rock (747), with no easy way to escape.
32 Chunk between 856 and 747 Snapshot by Larinor
32 Chunk tries to back out by 747, but 747 decides to have a few words with him. 856 sees this and approaches the both of them.
747 and 32 Chunk having words as 856 approaches Snapshot by Larinor
747 and 856 then get into a discussion, while 32 Chunk makes a hasty retreat towards the log and path area.
856 and 747 have words Snapshot by lyrics2go
856 finally turns his back and 747 then moves to where 32 Chunk went. 32 and 747 get into a little stare-off with words exchanged for quite a few minutes.
32 Chunk and 747 have words Snapshot by Brenda05
32 Chunk has intrigued viewers with his behavior in the Jacuzzi this week. Several times he has been seen doing what appeared to be digging or dragging the river bottom while backing out of the Jacuzzi. Once he even stood up on his hind legs and backed up in what we thought looked like the bear version of Moonwalking! 🙂 Mike Fitz was asked about this behavior during a text chat this past week. Here is what he had to say:
“I’ve watched him do that at the falls when I’ve been there, and I have no idea why he might do that. I wasn’t able to see if there was anything he was looking for. My best guess: he’s expressing his “nervous” energy, sort of like how 409 and 812 stick their paw out when fishing the lip.”
32 Chunk “moon-walking” in the jacuzzi Snapshot by scooch
32 Chunk seeming to dredge the jacuzzi Snapshot by Kathy W
68 and 634 Popeye got into quite the kerfuffle in the far pool. It was hard to tell who “won” the battle as 68 retained his spot in the office but 634 did turn his back and walk off and seemed to scent mark some bushes around the corner of the rock wall.
68 and 634 Popeye have kerfuffle in the office Snapshot by LaniH
151 Walker had words with 854 Divot who continued sitting up on the boulder growling and complaining to any boar who happened to be where she wanted to fish.
854 Divot and 151 Walker have words Snapshot by LaniH
A sweet moment between 755 Scare D Bear and 151 Walker was caught on cams where they nuzzled for a bit and did a little “play” before it was interrupted by 503.
151 Walker and 755 Scare D Bear nuzzle Snapshot by Cam Op Maisie
409 Beadnose was spotted back on the lip a couple times this past week. But she was also seen during both PBP’s Explore Fellow Mike Fitz did on the lower river.
409 Beadnose on the lip Snapshot by GreenRiver
409 Beadnose with a spawned out salmon during a PBP Snapshot by Cam Op Jo
There was a live chat this past week about the genetics research Ranger Michael Saxton is conducting. The past three years he has been collecting DNA through various means, from collecting hair samples by placing barbed wire on trees, to darting bears near Brooks River with darts that grab a small tissue sample and then drop off. You can see the bears that have been successfully darted here. You can also read more about the genetics research being conducted here.
close up of the darts used in the genetic study Snapshot by Larinor
Mike Fitz and Ranger Russ discuss September at Brooks River. View the live chat video here.
Mike Fitz did two play by play’s from the lower river this week, you can see them here and here.
Mike Fitz has done several broadcasts via Periscope. These can be replayed by going to this link and choosing the broadcast from the left side. You can also view any live broadcasts when they occur at this same link. If you have the Periscope or Twitter app on a smart phone or tablet, you can create an account and follow @exploreorg and receive notifications when a broadcast starts.
