This cute grizzly bear cub was walking along the shore of Lake Clark, in Alaska. Mom and a sibling were nearby.
Many of the grizzlies in the Silver Salmon Creek area of Lake Clark National Park are acclimated to the presence of humans, allowing visitors to observe them at a closer range than is usually possible. Some of the mother bears were raised in the area and have grown up around humans. Of course, keeping a respectful distance and carefully observing the bears' behavior are still vitally important. My group felt a bit nervous when a curious cub approached within a few feet, but mom bear simply watched until her cub rejoined her. The cubs were born in 2017.
This impressive grizzly, or brown, bear was photographed in Alaska's Lake Clark National Park. Many of the bears in the park are habituated to humans, which allows closer access than is possible -- or recommended -- with other grizzly populations. Maintaining a respectful distance, observing the bears' level of comfort with humans, and approaching quietly and in a group allowed my group to get to within 50 feet of the bears. Even some mother bears with cubs were comfortable with us. We were accompanied by an experienced bear guide as well as a professional photographer who has studied bears and bear behavior for many years. This isn't something to be tried without expert guidance.
