Brown Bear Cub Playing with a Feather in Brooks River

I arrived at Katmai in early September and the park, only weeks from closing, was teeming with brown bears. Sockeye salmon fought their way upstream and, at any time, dominant bears guarded their fishing spots and expertly captured their prey from the swiftly flowing water as eager youngsters lunged for, and often missed, fish as they leapt past their gaping mouths. Other less dominant bears roamed seemingly vacant coastlines to scavenge for carcasses. This bustle of activity, fueled by unlimited access to abundant food sources, ensures that bears are healthy and comfortable enough for other pursuits like playtime. This brown bear cub and its sibling spent their first few months safely in a den and will stay with their mother for the next two and a half years. After wrestling with a branch while mom was scanning the water for the family's meal, I smiled as it fiercely pounced on a feather as it drifted in the light breeze.