Alaska - Coastal Brown Bears 2016

Young of the year.

Spring cubs in the meadow, Silver Salmon Creek Lodge, Alaska

Brown bear sow

Eating grass in the meadow, this coastal brown bear sow is about 20 years old.

Juvenile coastal brown bear.

This is one of two cubs we saw with their mother last year. This year they are on their own. She was reacting to our efforts to recover a nylon bag that had blown away from our group.

Smoky mountains in the Alaska range.

The haziness here was caused by a forest fire hundreds of miles away, with the blanket of fireweed in the foreground.

Smoke and fireweed

Fireweed and the mountains.

My flounder

The two juvenile cubs with a flounder found in the sand.

One of the juvenile cubs ( third year) had an injured paw. Luckily, she seemed to improve each day.

A moment in the sun.

Third-year cub at the beach.

Grin or bare it?

Third year cub.

No fish? I'll chew my stick instead.

Third-year cub.

Buried treasure for young bears?

Third year cubs. These two were kicked out by their mom this spring and are totally on their own. This will be the most difficult year for them, as they are lowest in the "pecking order" in the meadows and to catch salmon. If they survive this summer, they stand a good chance to survive to 10, 20 or even 30 years.

Mt. Slope, Lake Clark National Park

Mama in the meadow.

This old sow put her cubs up a tree so that she can graze uninterrupted for a few hours. Until the salmon come in, the coastal brown bear's diet is made up of vegetation and clams.

Family outing in the meadow.

Sow and young-of-the year twins. The cubs are about 5 1/2 months old here.

Clamming at the beach.

The cubs are just beginning to learn about clamming.

Common murres.

Although these birds are good at fast, direct flight, but they excel underwater. They can dive up to 100-200 feet.

Horned puffin