all snug in their beds,
while dreams of salmon,
dance in their heads.
Last year at this time I posted the highlight of 2015 which was spending time with Mama-Griz and Her Mini-me in Glacier National Park in Montana.
This year the highlight of 2016 was spending time with the twenty six or so grizzlies and cubs in the Knight Inlet in Canada.
It is an absolute thrill to observe and photograph these magnificent creatures in the wild. I took so many photos in the inlet and thought I would share some more with you.
The grizzly bear is listed as a threatened species in the contiguous United States and endangered in parts of Canada.
Ursus Artos Californicus is the symbol of my state, California. In 1866, a grizzly described as weighing as much as 2,200 pounds was killed at The Holler, the biggest bear ever found in California. Today this California species is extinct.
Does this guy look like a well fed and happy Baloo Bear to you?
It is my sincere hope that the remaining grizzlies in North America will be allowed to live out their lives in peace. Cheers to you from the now sleeping grizzlies of the Knight Inlet~
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Thanks for the images of such majestic creatures, and up close and personal.
Thank you for recognizing their magnificence Amy for that is what they truly are~ 🐻
Magnificent creatures, Cindy. I love your photos. What an experience that must be to see them in the wild 🙂
The numbers we encountered on this trip were remarkable with so many sows and juveniles. It was our second trip here. On the first trip we encountered 3 bears, on this one, 26, because we were at the peak of the salmon run~
That’s great! Yay for sharing this world with wildlife.
<3
Holy crap! You said sleeping…… beautiful powerful animanls but I rather see them in photos.
You’re a dare devil to go to see those monsters
My former job evaluating and treating males with anger and violence problems was far more dangerous and I do use much the same skills to stay safe with wild animals that I used with people, distance, respect, careful observation of body language, backup and general common sense. I find the animals less dangerous than the people I used to work with.
Forgot, you did tell me you where some kind of social working or something like that…. try work my into civil society and if you can, you can say you have achieved a miracle. Plus I’ m not all tha bad
Of course you’re not, that’s why i like you.
Amazing captures, Cindy! Hoping to visit Colusa wildlife refuge for some snow geese action this weekend!
I wish I could go with you!
Ursus horribilis (grizzlies) and Canis lupus (grey wolves) are magnificent animals and have been treated unfairly by Homo screw-up-iens (man). They deserve to live in peace in their ever-shrinking habitats. Thanks for the beautiful photos!
You said exactly what I feel. I am sick and tired of people killing magnificent wild animals and destroying their eco-systems~ 🐻
Cindy – Since we can see the individual whiskers on these bears in your photos, I can appreciate what a glorious experience this was. So close! (or is that a special lens? 🙂 )
These are definitely tele-photo shots. We were on an wooden elevated bear viewing platform and were about 12 feet above the bears at the closest, mostly we were further.
That is my hope too, Cindy. Wonderful shots!
The 🐻🐻 and I thank you!
These are stunning photographs Cindy, so crisp and clear. It’s such a treat to see these animals so close and enjoying their natural habitat.
Thank you for caring about them Elisa! They are amazing creatures~
I am always awestruck by what you and that camera of yours manage to capture — as I say I am so grateful for you and your commitment to making sure the world can see such beauty. Thank you Cindy!
Awww, thank you much more for such an incredibly kind and thoughtful comment~ 🐻
It’s impossible NOT to love a bear, Cindy! After all, they just remind us of the teddy bears we had as kids (and we refuse to consider their long claws and teeth, ha!)
Yes they are disarmingly cuddly looking at times and so frequently docile unlike how they are depicted in most photos and media. Fully recognizing their awesome power of tooth, claw, mass and agility, makes them even more impressive
I love when you share these remarkable moments. I feel like I’m there in the photos. Hugs!
It makes the experience better with you along Rebecca. 🐻 hugs back to you my friend~
Can you clarify? “In 1866, a grizzly described as weighing as much as 2,200 pounds was killed at The Holler, the biggest bear ever found in California”
Killed at The Holler?
T and I were not aware of grizzlies’ extinction. Terrible.
Ursus Arctos Californicus was a separate sub-species of Grizzly Bear, similar genetically to Alaskan Grizzlies, larger than the bears in other US states. Californicus is now extinct. The Holler is a mythical name I use for where I live. The largest Californicus was killed here in 1866, stuffed and kept in a local museum for decades. Here are some links for more details:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_grizzly_bear
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-valley-center-a-piece-of-bear-valley-history-is-2012jun16-story.html
Awesome!
The 🐻🐻 and I thank you!
You leave us fascinated with those photos. Valedero your daring because you captured the best. As always, you have the art before
Tu es muy amable! Gracias tanto para la reflexion seco y estar bien mi amigo. 🐻 abrazos! <3
Reblogged this on Random Ramblings; Myriad Musings and commented:
Beautiful photographs of the majestic grizzly bear – thank you to Cindy for posting and sharing these! Beautiful.
😎
Thank you to you for supporting the vulnerable 🐻🐻! <3
I love my bruins – they look cuddly…from a safe distance, at least!
😉
They do indeed, and a safe distance is key~
Amazing photos Cindy.
Ah, thanks much Barb~ 🐻
‘George the Grizzly’ recited this poem after being criticized for his large bald spot:
“Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear.
Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair.
But Fuzzy Wuzzy didn’t care,
‘cuz Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear!”
Tee hee hee! Good for George! No 🐻 should face such bullying~ 😉
It must be sooo magical to be that close and personal with the bears! Thank you for sharing these fabulous photos xxx
It is and I seek it out because of this. Thank you for appreciating the 🐻🐻!
☺💖 xxx
Fabulous photographs. What an incredible experience that must have been for you!
It is up there on the list of life’s magical experiences. If we hadn’t killed off so many grizzlies, more people would have a chance to experience this~ 🐻
Guess all these experiences make you a grizzled veteran…
Tee hee hee! Yep. I think so but more from my decades as a psychotherapist !
Even more scary. I think if I spent decades as a psychotherapist I’d spend more decades needing a psychotherapist! Nice to see you’ve survived it well.
Exactly, but wild animals really are better therapists. Thank you for making me smile.
What a fantastic journey that must have been and what wonderful photos!
It was pretty remarkable! Cheers to you Dorothy and Happy New Year! 🐻
Awesome captures of the Grizzlies and especially from natural environment (than in captivity). I think they were having the best sushi (fresh right out of the water). Yes, I do hope their specie continues too.
They do get the very best sushi but they work for it! <3 🐟
Those are some lovely photos of the bears! I especially like the little captions at the bottom of the first three photos 🙂 It must be nice getting up close to such fascinating wildlife.
It is a wonderful experience and so pleased you enjoyed the 🐻🐻🐻!
These pictures give a feel for the personalities, just the fact these are sentient creatures. In a couple of the pictures one has a distinct facial expression, a bit worried looking.
I noticed a whole variety of personalities watching them, most were peaceful, a few appeared sad, others were playful, some youngsters focused on learning how to fish, some argued with each other, others were curious about the humans, and only one appeared overtly hostile when he looked into my lens. Thanks for noticing. They are definitely sentient, feeling, intelligent creatures~
Wow, amazing. That one bear was looking at you. 🙂
Yes they at times look directly at the camera lens. I have many photos of this. Perceptive of you to notice~
Magnificent creatures and beautiful photography. Here’s to a world with room for Grizzlies!
Love to you and all the goldens~ <3
I love bears. Every time I see one, I want to hug it. But I think a grizzly might not take too kindly to that 🙂
It’s 🐻y best to leave some relationships in the realm of fantasy!!! 🐻
Indeed! The trick is knowing which ones 🙂
Unfortunately, this is very true!
They don’t look too sleepy to me. 🙂
This was the September gorge during the salmon run. Now they are sleepy and quite grumpy if you wake them, much like me actually~ 🐻
I get grumpy if I’m woken, but since I hardly sleep it’s the case I’m pretty much perpetually grumpy
That is serious suffering. Chronic insomnia is really hard to deal with. There are solutions, but you are very smart and I am sure you have checked them out.
I live with it… My sleep hygiene is pretty good, but when I can’t sleep I’ll get out of bed. I’ve seen lots of very intriguing documentaries in the dark watches of the night. 🙂
Oh, glad to hear this, much better than chronic insomnia which is a bear (pun intended) to live with~
Beautiful and stunnig as always
kisses
Visa versa 2UX2 with 🐻hugs 2!
Amazing photos of such fascinating animals. Love bears.
I love people who love 🐻🐻🐻!
Thank you for these beautiful photographs!
Thank you for appreciating them Charles~ 🐻
Love the wading bear with ripples and the reflections.
Ah, thank you for noticing! I love getting the grizzlies reflected in the river~ 🐻
<3
That is also my sincere hope! Thanks for another wonderful post to highlight the beauty and “humanity,” if you will, of these amazing bears! <3
Maybe the zoomanity! They seem less destructive than our species. Thank you for seeing their sentient souls~ <3🐻
Beary beary impressive, my friend! ʕっ˘ڡ˘ςʔ ʕ ∗ •́ ڡ •̀ ∗ ʔ
🐻y nice of you ma’ deah! ʕっ˘ڡ˘ςʔ ʕ ∗ •́ ڡ •̀ ∗ ʔ
As always very nice pictures. It saddens me to hear that grizzlies are in danger of becoming extinct. Such magnificent creatures.
Thank you for caring about them Steph! 🐻
I second, third and fourth that. We were lucky to spot some grizzlies in Alaska many years ago when we visited with my kids – they were HUGE, gorging on berries and fish in preparation for winter (it was late August). Now I have to try to find my pictures!
Oh I would so love to see them and I am glad you had the opportunity to see them wild & free and peaceful which is how they usually are~ 🐻
Excellent photos – and excellent bears!
Love people who love 🐻🐻!
Again they have those really readable expressions on their faces – and I still love them… 🙂
Yes, they have evident moods and personalities. I am impressed you can see them!
🐻
I share your hope that they may survive and thrive… That no pipeline, fracking or other monstrosity will destroy their home… <3
We are in accord. Thank you on behalf of the 🐻🐻!
Absolutely stunning pictures, Cindy! 🙂
Is this about the fifth comment WP put in spam???? You are very kind and I am honored by your thoughtfulness. Thank you~
Cindy, I swear you are the … Mother of Nature Geographic!!!
I’ll be linking to your Owl post when I do my Owl post during Kids’ Month.
I’m also posting a Bear piece! I’d like to link this in on that post, if I may.
Your work is not just pretty pictures. It is educational.
You and I must meet my friend, some where, some time, in this great big world.You can post, use, do anything with any of my photos anytime and I will just be honored. Be well Resa~ <3
Stunning pictures of those majestic animals. Funny because my picture of the day tomorrow is a grizzly cub that I took in the Knight Inlet 🙂
I saw your cub! Wonderful shot of a beautiful little guy! 🐻
Awesome!!!!!!! we have moved to http://www.travelsupervisors.com so see you there!!
greetings!
Heading over now to check it out…..
Wow! Er, are you sure they’re sleeping, Cindy? 😀
Not when I took these pics, but they’re dozing now. Can’t guarantee they won’t get up for a snack. I would! 🐻
Better watch out then, Cindy. Lol. 😀🙃
If only we could leave them alone… it seems that being huge and magnificent does not keep you safe in the eyes of prize seeking humans. May Grizzlies always have a place where they can live in peace.
I am with the Elephant Seals now in Big Sur. The babies have been born. The males weigh up to 5000 pounds, and we drove them close to extinction. I have lived all my life in California and never saw them until recently. Now there are 23,000 on Big Sur’s coastline! Conservation regulation works Donald Trump~
Indeed! Only if Donald Trump and the likes could learn to think of others but himself…
5000 pound is just under 2500 kilos. That is 4 times a fully grown horse! Imagine meeting that head on in the water~
I saw a male that size in the water! The eyes looked like dinner plates! Just massive and so fast in the water~
!!! Just wow!
Wow, I’ve never seen one up close before!
It is an amazing experience!
Wunderschöne Fotos lieber Gruß und ein gutes Wochenende wünsche ich dir Gruß Gislinde
Vielen dank mein lieber Freund Gislinde! 🐻
Wonderful pictures. I’m glad that the grizzlies can sleep and dream in safety.
Yes that makes three of us, including the 🐻!
Beautiful grizzlies! Amazing.
The 🐻🐻 and I thank you!
I guess as long as we stay far from them, and let them do what grizzlies do, they are beautiful to the human eye! Nice photos, Cindy!
Yes, space, respect, common sense, and rule adherence are critical in bear country.
Have I told you lately how much I love your blog and photos? I truly do. Thanks for sharing them. They brighten up my days! 🙂
Ahhh, your kind thoughts just made my night! Cheers to you Chris & thank you~