Black Bears - Fishing for Pink Salmon

Millions of Pink Salmon (Humpies) return to the Solomon Gulch Fish Hatchery in Valdez, Alaska each year, attracting every bear in the area. I have seen as many as 19 different bears around the hatchery in a single afternoon! Needless to say, this is an opportunity worth the 5+ hour drive (one way) from Anchorage to Valdez. It's a good thing there are so many bears, otherwise one would never see them for the Gulls!

I photographed this sow Black Bear as she headed down to the creek for another Pink Salmon meal. With the huge number of Salmon available, and the need to fatten up quickly for winter on high fat content food, all this bear will eat of a Salmon is the eggs. The gulls then take the eyes, leaving the fish still struggling.

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I photographed this sow Black Bear as she headed down to the creek for another Pink Salmon meal. With the huge number of Salmon available, and the need to fatten up quickly for winter on high fat content food, all this bear will eat of a Salmon is the eggs. The gulls then take the eyes, leaving the fish still struggling.

Valdez Alaska Fishing Bear Black Bear Salmon Pink Salmon Humpies Mammal Solomon Gulch Fish Hatchery Ursus americanus Humpys Oncorhynchus gorbuscha August