Grizzly Bear ~ Russian River Campground ~~ Part 2

Grizzly Bear looking for dinner!

I thought this was funny, the lady in the picture is trying to take her own picture with the bear in the background. A minute later she and the other fishermen in that area were getting out of the way!

This picture is blurry because the bear is bouncing on the log trying to find some fish.

Saturday night, July 3rd ~~ This morning we did the hike to the falls and watched the salmon jumping the rapids in an attempt to get up stream. Tonight we went back down by the river hoping to see someone land a salmon, see and Eagle or maybe see a bear. The only thing we didn't see was a fisherman lad a salmon. It was an amazing night. It was about 9pm and light enough to be 5pm when we got down by the river. We had been down there about 15 minutes or less when a couple fishermen, who were walking the opposite direction told us about a large Grizzly Bear that was down by the water looking for a fish dinner. We hurried, very cautiously, trying to get to where we could see the bear. When we did see it I was relieved to see it was on the opposite bank from where we were walking. The river is approximately 50 ft wide, in some places were more and some were less. Our first impression of the bear was that it was a very large animal. Luckily it was only interested in finding fish. As he lumbered along he would periodically find a carcass and take it up the hill a short distance and in the protection of the trees enjoy his find. Then he would come back to the river's edge and start over again. He has learned that a flock of Gulls on the shore means an opportunity for more fish so when he got close to a flock of Gulls he would pick up the pace and move quickly towards the birds. Of course they would scatter and he would move in to pick up the carcass they left behind, starting the routine over again, taking the carcass to a "secluded" space, enjoy the meal and then come back for more. We watched this bear and took several pictures for more than 30 minutes. At one point as the bear approached an area where there were several fishermen we watched to see how they handled it. This particular area had a turn in the river where there was an island in the center of the turn. We have noticed it to be a very popular spot where fishermen gather. At first they watched but as the bear got closer they took their stuff and back away from the water. That was a good idea! At this curve the Bear actually got in the water, was probing under some logs on the bank and at one point submerged itself looking for fish. It was so cool to watch this in person! I loved it when the bear stood in the river and with its front paws bounced up and down on a log that was hanging in the river. My guess is it was trying to dislodge a fish carcass or scare a live salmon out from under it. It didn't work because he didn't come up with anything. I think at that point he got bored with the whole situation and headed back up the hill, where he disappeared. WOW!! That was so exciting and exactly what we had hoped to see when we started this trip. As far as bear sightings go the only thing I want to see now is a bear actually "fishing" and catching a live salmon on its way to its spawning grounds. We are going on a "flightseeing" trip on Thursday, 7/15 where we will be flown in to a remote area to fish and take a boat up to watch bears in just that type situation. I am hoping for a great photo op. but you never know for sure what you will see.