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How Photographers Effect Wildlife. Part 2, Bear

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Bear!

Yep, that exclamation can cause a range of emotions in humans. Bears are big, fast, scary, edible, prized trophies, and complicated. When a photographer shows up in bear territory it also makes for some contemplation in bears - especially when spring bear hunting season is still open.

So let's see what this particular bear is thinking...

Black bear in muskeg in Southeast Alaska

"M-m-m! Photographer for lunch again!"

Black bear in Southeast Alaska

"Armed with a Canon. No problem."

Black Bear in meadow in Southeast Alaska

"I'll practice my catlike stealth."

Black bear behind bush in Southeast Alaska

"That's plenty of that. Time to close in."

Black bear seeing spots in Southeast Alaska

"Uh-oh, now I remember. The last photographer I ate gave me indigestion bad. All those additives and preservatives made me see spots. And I got a memory card stuck in my teeth."

Black bear in Southeast Alaska

"You're off the hook this time, Photographer. Let this be a lesson to you."

Relieved to be intact,

Alaska Beachcomber

More wildlife stories, both serious and not: Alaskan Critters Menu

 Hey Folks,

After several people wrote in with concerns I feel that I should add a little P.S. on this post. It’s a story. (The “M-m-m, Photographer for lunch again!” line is supposed to set it up as somewhat silly.) While bears can be dangerous, this one never acted in a threatening way. I interrupted the bear’s backscratch-on-a-tree session. Despite that rude behavior on my part, the bear was polite, curious, and cautious. I was using a long lens, but the bear was concerned, so I was in it’s space - a mistake on my part.

A page on my other website about bear safety:

Hiking in Bear Country on VisitPOW.com

And thanks for the fun comments!! Keep ‘em coming!