Brooks Falls in Alaska’s Katmai National Park is one of the world’s most recognized places to watch brown bears fishing for salmon. Framed by forest and open sky, eight bears occupy the crest of the waterfall, the turbulent pools beneath it, and the river downstream. Their gathering follows the seasonal return of sockeye salmon, whose upstream journey is briefly interrupted by the falls.
Though generally solitary, brown bears tolerate close company where food is abundant. This coexistence is shaped by a shifting hierarchy, with dominant bears often controlling the most productive fishing spots. Individual bears develop their own fishing habits, from catching leaping salmon or waiting in the pools below to chasing fish through the shallows or peering beneath the surface.
The salmon carry nourishment from the sea into Katmai’s interior, feeding bears and enriching the surrounding landscape through their remains. This scene of Katmai’s iconic bears brings that connection into view: animals, river, and forest sustained by a seasonal return from the ocean.
Brooks Falls in Alaska’s Katmai National Park is one of the world’s most recognized places to watch brown bears fishing for salmon. Framed by forest and open sky, eight bears occupy the crest of the waterfall, the turbulent pools beneath it, and the river downstream. Their gathering follows the seasonal return of sockeye salmon, whose upstream journey is briefly interrupted by the falls.
Though generally solitary, brown bears tolerate close company where food is abundant. This coexistence is shaped by a shifting hierarchy, with dominant bears often controlling the most productive fishing spots. Individual bears develop their own fishing habits, from catching leaping salmon or waiting in the pools below to chasing fish through the shallows or peering beneath the surface.
The salmon carry nourishment from the sea into Katmai’s interior, feeding bears and enriching the surrounding landscape through their remains. This scene of Katmai’s iconic bears brings that connection into view: animals, river, and forest sustained by a seasonal return from the ocean.
Image 1 of 1
