6/27/21

Today we visited a remote island that is home to more than 1200 costal brown bears. These bears are exactly genetically matched with the inland brown bear, also known as the Grizzly bear.

To get to this island, we took Cessna 206 bush planes, and landed on a beach. These Cessna’s were equipped with 6 seats two pilot seats and 4 passenger seats. They also allowed ample storage and leg room. These planes on non-pressurized planes, so they do not reach normal airline cruising altitude. We cruised at about 7,000 feet.

On immediate sight of the island we saw bears running the lands by the hundreds. This was a good sign for the rest of our trip. We landed on a beach made of beautiful rocks and shells. The tide was around mid range(This is important for later).

Once we got out of the planes we walked about 1000ft in to the field where their are bears everywhere. There were about 30 bears in sight. Mommas with cubs and males just wondering. These bears are not like normal bears though. These costal brown bears did not care about us in the least. We could get close enough to see the individual furs. When we first got there the bears were after a plant that was high in protein, sedge. This was the start of their day and they would eat a couple hundred pounds of this plant. Next when the tide went out, like I mean out, the bears would run out and dig for the clams. They could smell clam beds through the sand. This was amazing because when the bears would rush out they could cross paths, this would lead to extensive growling and fighting the was right in front of us.

We would later walk out on these clam beds. And to picture this view, imagine walking out into the bay (Its not very deep) its flat, and there are bears all around you. On the way home we took off from the beach and landed back on the runway for the end of the adventure.

-Jonah

I’m not going to bog down my portion of this experience with a recap of everything Jonah posted so wonderfully above. But this trip is a MUST! Alaska Bear Adventures! Oh my God! Bears everywhere! ~Gina