Greater than grizzlies?

I’m here with @jvophotosafaris and bear biologist Gary Alt, traveling through Frederick Sound and the spectacular wilderness waterways of the Inside Passage. This area is not only the summer feeding grounds for more than 500 humpback whales but also home to numerous other natural attractions, including humongous coastal brown bears.

Fun fact: Coastal brown bears are generally larger than grizzlies. This size difference is primarily due to their richer, more abundant food sources, such as salmon and other marine life. These high-calorie diets allow coastal brown bears to grow larger and heavier than grizzly bears, which have a more varied and often less calorie-dense diet.

Adult male coastal brown bears can weigh between 900 and 1,500 pounds, whereas adult male grizzly bears typically weigh between 400 and 800 pounds. The richer food resources along the coast contribute significantly to this disparity in size.

While it’s not yet officially salmon season for a few weeks, when one would find a greater density of bears, today’s land excursion gave us an amazing bear experience in an area where these animals aren’t as habituated as in my other Alaskan brown bear trip a few years ago.

A mother bear (sow) and her curious cub emerged from the woods just feet from where we were sitting on the beach, photographing another adult bear about a half mile away with our long lenses.

No long lens was required for this up-close, personal pass! How lucky were we?