Brown Bear Mother and Cub, Alaska by David & Shiela Glatz
Via Flickr:
Brown Bear mother on the alert to protect her yearling cub. A few minutes after this image was taken, a large male emerged and the mother and cub ran away.
Alaska had no national parks until 1980, but now the state has eight, plus numerous monuments and preserves that protect more than 630,000 square kilometres. In fact, many of the United States’ largest national parks are in Alaska, including the biggest of all, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. When President Carter signed the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, the public was granted the right to appreciate stunning locations like the one in today's photo: the braided river delta of the 82-kilometre-long Tlikakila River in Lake Clark National Park.
In the native Athabaskan language, Tlikakila literally means “salmon are there river”. The park is known for its waterways filled with salmon, which are of major importance to the local economy and ecosystem. Local bear populations benefit from the excess salmon, and bear watching is very popular at Lake Clark. The abundance of salmon has also benefited a wolf pack within the park – the only one in the world known to be solely dependent on salmon.
Itineraries in Exploring Waterton Lakes National Park by Mark Stevens
Via Flickr:
A setting looking to the south-southwest while taking in views and walking along the Cameron Lake Trail. This is in Waterton Lakes National Park. I used the hiking trail to my front as a leading line into the image with an opening in the trees. The distant peaks and ridges beyond the forest are in the US in Glacier National Park. What drew me into this setting was the layers present from the nearby woods and meadow to the view beyond with the mountains and peaks.
Glass Houses 075A0101 by Daniel D'Auria
Via Flickr:
They say that “people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.” I imagine the old adage doesn’t really apply to bears. For this young female brown bear seems to delight in the activity whenever she enters a stream. I was photographing coastal brown bears on the Cook Inlet as I have done for over a decade. I have seen bears play with sticks, stones, and shells before, but not as avidly and repeatedly as this young female. At times she would simply drop the stone. Other times she would let it roll off the back of her massive paw and down her leg. At times, however, she launches the stone like the forward on a basketball team. Having the opportunity to see these bears enjoying themselves is something I have grown to love. Their lives are much more multifaceted and complex than many believe. They aren’t simply the eating machines that some would have us believe.
Cautious Approach of Brown Bear Yearling Cub by David & Shiela Glatz
Via Flickr:
Female Brown Bear cub (Ursus arctos) approaches cautiously on the coast of the Cook Inlet, Alaska. Her mother was right behind her, so she didn't need to be so careful. We did and we backed off accordingly to give the bears plenty of room. Lake Clark National Park, AK.