Grizzly bears are a common sight in Katmai National Park. About 2,200 live in the park, with even more estimated to live on the Alaskan Peninsula. So while many bear populations decline around the world, Katmai remains as one of the few unaltered habitats for the animals and an incredible spot for tourists to go bear watching.
The most popular bear watching sight inside the park is easily Brooks Camp, situated right at the mouth of the Brooks River. Bears are so common in the area that after tourists arrive (usually by float plane) they are required to attend a brief bear safety talk outlining park regulations. Meanwhile park rangers are frequently busy keeping the bears away from the park facilities, ensuring that they don’t become comfortable around human activity.
In this case, a young grizzly had managed its way onto the bridge near Brooks Lodge, another frequent viewing sight for bears in the area. A ranger came in to move the bear along while making sure tourists kept far away from the animal.
Park rangers are the only people who should ever be approaching bears in any national park, and that’s only because they have the proper training and understanding to do so. This ranger clearly had a bottle of bear spray ready to deploy in case it became necessary, and he never moved too close to the animal too quickly. While it depends on the park and the area, in Katmai National Park, visitors are prohibited from approaching within 50 yards (150 feet) or remaining within 50 yards (150 feet) of brown bears.
Katmai National Park Guidelines on Avoiding Bear Encounters:
Hike and Travel in Groups
Groups of four or more people are typically very safe in bear country. Groups of people are usually noisier and smellier than a single person. Therefore, bears often become aware of groups of people at greater distances, and because of their cumulative size groups of people are also passively intimidating to bears. Hiking and traveling in groups is typically the best way to increase your level of safety in bear country.
Be Alert
Katmai’s bears are mostly diurnal (active during the day) but are also active at night and can be found in all of Katmai’s habitats. Never assume you are in a “bear free” area. Be on the lookout for signs of bears and be especially wary in areas where bears may have trouble detecting you. Sometimes, you might see a bear before it is aware of you. In these situations, back away quietly the same way you came and give the bear space.
Make Noise
In areas where visibility is limited make noise to warn bears of your approach. Brown bears can react defensively if they are surprised. The human voice is the best tool to warn bears of your approach. Bears may not associate other noise makers, such as bells, with people. Please remember that you are not making noise to scare bears away, only to warn them of your approach. Once a bear is aware of your presence it is usually not necessary to make extra noise.
Do Not Approach Bears
You should always avoid interfering with bear movement or foraging activities. If a bear reacts to your presence you are too close. Bears are creatures of habit and habitually use the same travel routes. Many close encounters can be avoided if you move out of a bear’s line of travel before it is close. Additionally, people are prohibited from approaching bears within 50 yards or remaining within 50 yards of a bear using a concentrated food source including, but not limited to, animal carcasses, spawning salmon, and other feeding areas.
Steer Clear of Places with Food that Attract Bears
Salmon streams, mud flats with clams, and sedge meadows are areas that attract bears and consequently people who want to watch them. Anglers are also attracted to streams where salmon are actively spawning.
Since most people visit Katmai to either see bears or fish in streams where bear encounters are likely, it can be difficult to stay clear of areas with food that attract bears. However, please consider fishing when bears are not at peak numbers (like on the Brooks River in June and August) and/or viewing bears at a distance, not, for example, from the middle of a sedge meadow or a salmon stream.