Fishing during the salmon run,
in the Knight Inlet,
British Columbia, Canada.
This set of four cubs was unusual. The smaller cubs will have a harder time in winter.
The bears congregate to gorge on salmon and pack on fat for the winter.
Fights break out over territory in the river,
but none we saw were serious.
The bears are extremely adept at swimming,
and seemed to enjoy taking rests in the cool water.
Even the cubs love to fish and eat!
This mama griz and cub we encountered on the trail in Glacier National Park. An inland bear and cub, not stuffed on salmon, is a far more threatening sight, and you can see mama go on high alert!
She soon relaxed, and even nursed in our presence, after she saw we kept our distance. (You can see these photos by clicking on the following links).
Cheers to you from the precious and endangered grizzlies of North America~
For more of my photos of coastal and inland grizzlies see:
https://cindyknoke.com/2015/09/17/grizzly-daze/
https://cindyknoke.com/2017/01/24/the-grizzlies-are-sleeping/
Note: I am going through photo archives and sharing select photos you may not have seen.
Wow! (Looks warily over shoulder)
Yes! Never sure when hiking if it is better to be in the front or the back! I always take the front for photos though 😉
Well, I must say, They are amazing!
Thank you!
You are welcome Cindy!
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Very interesting and nice photographs.
Thank you & I am happy you enjoyed them Kamal დ
You are welcome.
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Grizzlies never fail to leave me in awe…your photos are stunning, what a fabulous trip!
I saw my first grizzlies at age 6. I have never stopped being thrilled by the majesty of them დ
I remember seeing a Cinnamon bear by the Nicola River up country, I was so thrilled, I jumped out of our car to make my way toward it when my partner said, “whoa” (this bear was large!) so I jumped back in to watch it from a place of safety. I have yet to see a grizzly…
Gorgeous country and seeing any wild bear is always a major thrill, even if it’s just their butt running away, which it often is! 😉
Amazing shots. Thank you so much for posting them!
Thank you more for appreciating them & cheers to you დ
Beautiful animals and photography, Cindy! ❤️😎
Honored, thank you very much John დ
Incredible photographs. So very beautiful and exciting. <3
You are a wonderful friend დ
Fabulous photos!
Grazie mille დ
🙂🌏🏞
What a gift for the bear Cindy ~ so wonderful to see them in play ~ sending you joy Hedy ☺️💫❣️
They are playful creatures and I am happy you like them Hedy დ
Wonderful captures of the intense wet bestiality of the grizzlies. Thank you Cindy 💕
Thank you more for appreciating the wild ones Joyce and take good care დ
Wonderful images and pictures. I’ve been to Glacier National Park and hiked on trails there. But, didn’t encounter grizzlies while on hike and thankful for that. Loved the park and nature there.
Glacier is just a stunning place isn’t it. Glad you have experienced it Joyce დ
Yes it is. So glad to have seen it.
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Everything is just beautiful
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Amazing photos. 🙂 One does need to be cautious around bears, especially grizzlies.
Oh, yes indeed! Distance and warning are key დ
Beautiful creatures, seem innocent too, lol.
Thanks much. They are stunning creatures, but I would never want to surprise one on a trail! დ
Nope! 🙂
I’ve spent time with the Alaskan Brown Bears in Alaska on the Brooks River. Same as grizzlies and very adept at catching fish. Great photos, especially of Mom on high alert.
Thanks Jim. I’ve always wanted to go to Katmai…..I hear it is an awesome experience დ
I don’t remember the grizzlies, Cindy, but regardless these pictures are wonderful – post them again if you want to!!
Laughing….thank you Sheila! Much appreciated დ
Wondeful photos, Cindy. The fall colors add nice atmosphere, background and reflections.
I bet you miss all your travels, but the Holler isn’t such a bad place to hole up. 😉
Thank you Eliza. I am babysitting my twin grandsons who are just turning two, so I am keeping kinda busy!! This is the longest I have holed up in forever….Stay safe and well my friend დ
They are two already? Wow, time is flying!
These are great photos, Cindy. I hope you had a very strong telescopic lens. It would be a mistake to get too close to these guys.
Great photos! My son and I saw many grizzlies when we were fishing on a tributary of the Big Susitna River near Talkeetna, AK. Magnificent creatures.
I especially loved seeing the faces of the bears.. thank YOU.. always.. I so appreciate your sharing..
Great pictures! Just amazing!
These are the best photos of grizzlies and bears that I have ever seen.
Amazing photos!
Thank you Bette & lovely to hear from you დ
These are stunning and such an intimate look at these magnificent creatures!
I <3 people who <3 bears დ
Absolutely incredible photos Cindy!👏
Awww, thank you my friend დ
Great photos, and I’m sure a great experience, particularly the mother and cub. I accidentally came face to face with a black bear this summer, but have never seen a Grizzly in the wild.
I love black bears too. I love all bears. Seeing them in the wild is always a thrill, face to face though is scary. დ
Bears are great, and can be a bit scary, but that is why we respect them.
Yes, thank you Trent. We need to respect their space and their lives დ
Great photos but would make me freak ..seeing those 🐻. Bears.
It is critically important to maintain safe viewing distance and know and follow all the rules for safety in grizzly country დ
This is a very wild, and gorgeous creature of earth.
I wish them the best!
Great shots, Cindy. Thank you!
They are such magnificent beasts. I wish we in the US would more actively protect them დ
Excellent photos. I feel as though I’m very close to the bears, so I guess you were too (to photograph them).
Thank you Vicki and thankfully I have a zoom lens! დ
Bear with me, I’m thinking of a bear pun……You’re the beary best when it comes to photography!
ʕ♡˙ᴥ˙♡ʔ ʕつ ͡◔ ᴥ ͡◔ʔつᕦʕ ⊙ ◡ ⊙ ʔᕤ
Laughing….thank you beary much დ
(ღ˘⌣˘ღ)｡o○♡
The Bear photos are awesome!
Thank you Lisa დ
These are incredible photos, Cindy. Isn’t it wonderful to be able to go through past photos and experience great moments again. So pleased that you shared your photos of my part of the world. Hugs and love!
You haved lived in two of my favorite places, home to two of my favorite creatures, both bears, brown and white. Love to you Rebecca დ
Well, that’s something. I read “Night of the Grizzlies” while camping in Glacier NP back in the 70’s. That’s been my go-to terror ever since, being eaten alive by a bear.
My husband and I both read that book while in Glacier! Unbelievable to read about that trash dump the park took tourists too, but the stats were also in the book which showed what an anomalous time period that was. Still in another trip in Yellowstone, a person was killed, hiking alone on a trail we had just hiked.
They are magnificent! Great photos of them doing what they do. Too bad we are making a mess of their habitat.
I remember the huge counts I tallied of grizzlies as a kid in Yellowstone. Soon they may be gone entirely from the US დ
Heartbreaking. It’s all heartbreaking what we are doing.
It is.
Wow. Superb shots. Don’t feed the bears. Don’t let them feed you.
Exactly!! And thank you John 😉
Amazing photos, Cindy! I was quite impressed with their claws! I’ve never seen such detailed close-up photos of bears. Excellent gallery!
Honored & thanks very much. Hope you are staying safe and well დ
Wow! You do go on adventures Cindy!! I’d be pooping my pants if a Mama Grizzly and cub was on a path I was on. What a feast they’re enjoying. Are you filming them from a long distance? You look so close to these beasts. xK
The river bears in BC were shot from a wooden safe viewing platform like a bird hide above the river. The inland bears in Montana were shot at 1200mm zoom from a safe distance. Maintaining distance and following all bear country rules is critical for the bears safety and yours whenever you are in bear country. Don’t poop your pants. It would make you to interesting to the bears!! 😉 😉
Don’t poop! LOL clearly noted. 😂
I have really good ideas like this a lot…..
What fantastic photos! I hope these were taken from some distance.
Always. Maintain safe distance. Cannot be stressed enough and thank you Sheree დ
Good yo hear! I was a bit concerned when I saw the look in the eye of the bear in the second photo.
Perceptive of you to notice Sheree. That is the only bear that looked at me with raw aggression in his eyes. I definitely noticed and felt it too. I would imagine grizzlies have differing personalities, like people. დ
You had me on my toes while reading this post. I have a lot of respect for bears, and grizzlies in particular. We have brown bears and wolves in the forests around where I live. Two women were actually chased by a brown bear two weeks ago, this happened close to my father’s cabin.
Yes. Grizzlies need to be big time respected. I have seen people and their dog charged by a mother with a cub. We warned them about her ahead on the trail but they ignored us. We watched the whole thing unfold in what seem like slow motion when actually she was in a full bore charge. It was a warning charge and the people turned around and left. We continued to watch her from a safe distance. We hiked in Yellowstone and encountered a large grizzly too close on the trail. A few days later someone hiking alone was killed on that same trail. We always maintain safe distance, carry air horns (they work well) and spray, maintain safe distance, securely wrap food, never hike alone and make noise all the time we hike. Even so, you have to remain constantly alert and aware. დ
That sounds very wise!
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Well, I must say they look awesome !
They are indeed, awesome creatures! დ
My goodness, what a privilege to be so close … a little scary too though. Wonderful photos!
Thank you so much. It was a incredible experience დ
Excellent pictures. What is a safe social distance to take pictures, with flashes, in front? Use telescopic lenses?
For the bears in the river, you view them from a wooden viewing platform above the river that you are escorted to by a guide. Numbers are very limited to avoid disturbing the bears. You must fly in by float plane or boat and stay in a cabin. You get to the platform by small motor boat and hike with the guide to it. There are bears everywhere around you as you hike. You are instructed not to stop on the raised walkway to the platform. That bear glaring at me I captured on the walkway. Inland bear rules are strict and need to be followed. 100 yards is the recommended distance to maintain between you and an inland bear. We saw a couple and their dog get charged because they ignored this rule despite our warning them about the bear and cub ahead on the trail. The inland bear photos were shot at 1200mm zoom დ
Many thanks for your enlightening reply. Excellent.
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Stunning! How I would love to see a grizzly in the wild, albeit from a distance. What an incredible day it must have been shooting these majestic animals. Wishing you well, Cindy, especially in this even more difficult September. Take care.
How wonderful to hear from you Randall! Yes everyday spent in Grizzly country is an amazing day. They are spectacular creatures. Hope you stay safe and well my friend დ
What amazing and beautiful captures of these Grizzlies. Bravo, cindy!!
Honored. Thank you very much Isabel დ
As endearing as ever
They are endearing and I love you using that descriptor Derrick დ
Reblogged this on Musings on Life & Experience and commented:
Great pictures of wild grizzlies by Cindy Knoke.
The grizzlies and I thank you for caring and sharing Patricia დ
Wow, Cindy. Talk about close encounters! They’re beautiful but so close. When I think of how fast they can run….!
We were on a safe wooden bear viewing platform in the river and these are well fed coastal grizzlies, but you still have to be careful and never hike alone. In Montana, it is different. In all situations one has to follow all the rules, carry air horns and spray, never hike alone and maintain safe distance at all times. We saw a bear charge a couple and their dog. Grizzlies tend to not appreciate dogs. We warned them about the bear but they ignored us and got too close. We watched the charge. The cub hid behind a boulder while mama charged. It seemed like slow motion but she was moving very fast. Thankfully it was a warning and the people rapidly left. We stayed where we were a safe distance away unharassed. დ
Heavy stuff! To close for me, I have already been hunted once, a female brown bear with two cubs. It went well in the end.
That would be terrifying. Thank God it ended well დ
Looking like Teddybears,but i know they can be very aggressive with youngsters around. Michael
Yes. They and their space need to be respected at all times დ
😉
Thanks for sharing these fantastic images. The claws on the mama bear remind us how dangerous they can be. Seeing the bears feeding like this is at the top of my bucket list.
Awwww…..thank you. Seeing this mother and cub in all their glory in their spectacular home was a thrill of a lifetime. Watching her nurse and discipline her cub was incredible. She was such a loving mama. დ
These grizzlies movement tells me, watch it I can take you down, even though you’re a human. How did you take these shots? They look so dangerous. 🙂
I shot the bears in the inlet from a safe viewing platform. Getting to the platform was a tad dicey at there were so many bears everywhere, but we were in a group and followed all the rules for bear country. In Montana it is a different story. Inland bears encountered on trails with a cub can be very dangerous. Again we follow all the rules, maintain distance, carry bear spray and air horns, and never hike alone. We did see a grizzly charge a couple and their dog who approached the bear too closely despite our warning. It is very dangerous and foolhardy for both the bear and the people to not follow safe bear viewing directions. დ
Beautiful creatures and images! You sure have traveled to a lot of wonderful places Cindy. 🌲🎇🐹
Thank you Brad. I used to travel a lot. Covid has changed all that. Stay well my friend დ
Yes. It’s a new world. Take care.
You too Brad.
Wow! I am so impressed by these magnificent photos of the grizzly bears. They look so frighteningly close. I hope that you were shooting them with your zoom lens. We have grizzly bears in our mountains nearby. When hiking we always carry bells to alert them of our presence. Have a great Sunday, Cindy!
Thank you Peter. I am glad you don’t hike alone and wear bells. We also carry bear spray and air horns. Air horns work very well with coyotes too. დ
Wow Grizzlies look so different from Black bears (I follow Torfino photography who regularly takes shots of Black Bears). I felt quite scared looking at the grizzlies. They are sooo big!
They are massive and they have have these huge shoulders with elongated front legs built for lethal swiping, plus they can move fast! დ
Love them. Thanks for those wonderful pictures.
Thank you more for appreciating them & cheers to you my friend დ
Love the bears! Great pictures – reminds me that almost all bears are not interested in us, just want to live their lives!
So true. I have seen lots of grizzlies in my life and thankfully none have been aggressive, however, I follow all safe bear country rules and keep my distance დ
What impressive creatures! Thank you, Cindy, for bringing them up close for us. Just look at those claws — no wonder toy bear manufacturers don’t add something that scary to the paws of the critters they make for sale!
Yes, they are not teddy bears are they! დ
They’re so beautiful and majestic. Fabulous photos. The claws…omg the claws.
The claws are so formidable aren’t they. She is equipped to defend that cub დ
Fantastic photos Cindy. Our bears sure love their salmon.
(So do we)
Leslie xoxo
Laughing…..The bears are purists and love salmon tartare! 😉
😉
These are beautiful photos of these bears, Cindy!
Interesting photos
Such wonderful photos. I would love to see this one day.
Alison
Ah, I loved these photos.
I <3 people who <3 bears! დ
I’d love to see them … from a distance!
Good for you for the distance & I hope you do! დ
Great photo series, Cindy. Good to keep distance.
Critically important to keep safe distance for both the bears and people დ
Wow! Awesome photos! Looks like you were very close to them!
Thanks much! We were close, but above them in the inlet, but quite a distance in Glacier. დ
Amazing creatures!
They are indeed დ
Cindy, I could barely contain my love of these pictures. They are phenomenal. <3
Awww, thank you Colleen and stay well my friend დ
Aren’t they photogenic, Cindy! Great pictures. –Curt
Thanks much Curt and yes, they are always picture perfect! დ
Cindy, thank you for these stunning photographs!
Awesome pics, as usual, Cindy! We enjoy the world vicariously through your stunning work! Thank you!😁👍👏👏👏
Thank you Charles. So appreciated! I am experiencing the world vicariously now too, since covid came to call დ
Reblogged this on charles french words reading and writing and commented:
Here are stunning photographs from Cindy Knoke!
Thank you Charles for supporting these magnificent and threatened creatures and stay well my friend დ
I’ve never seen photos of grizzlies that close-up before! They are very powerful creatures. The first one actually looks quite winsome, but I’m sure it’s a case of you leave me alone, and I’ll leave you alone.
“you leave me alone, and I’ll leave you alone.” That is a pretty good philosophy for lots of situations! 😉
That was my parents’ mantra for dealing with stinging insects and biting animals. And yes, it also applies in the human world!
It does 😉
Nice photographs 👌👌
Grazie დ
Cool photos and great read Cindy!
Cool photos and great read Cindy. Thanks
You are most welcome Gary & cheers to you my friend დ
Thank you for another beautiful dose of nature!
Thank you for appreciating our Mother Jennie დ
Always! Our Mother is ever-giving. You are welcome, Cindy. 🙂
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Such lovely photos of bears ❤️🐻 I like them very much, like all animals 🐱 🐇 🐼
Thank you & good for you. 🐱 🐇 🐼 <3
Nice of you to take photos of my relatives. Glad to see they’re all alive and well
I knew I liked you Gottfried, but I had no idea I liked your family as well! დ
The big bears with lighter fur, I wonder if some just have that or are they the elders of the group?
Good question. I think it is genetic, passed on from parents. დ
I suppose when they come out of the water, they smell like a wet bear … as opposed to a wet dog. 🙂
Laughing…..
Beautiful captures
stay safe happy healthy and wealthy
Thank you & the same to you Kanika დ
🙏😊
Wow! How near have you been to the Grizzlys?
I always maintain safe viewing distance around grizzlies. I use telephoto lenses. The bears in the inlet were photographed from a wooden platform above the bears that is similar to a bird hide. We were quite safe above but close to the bears. დ
A delightful post and beautiful pictures Cindy, a pleasure to read your post, kind regards.
Thank you my friend. Miss all of you in Oz დ
Dangerous Beauty!
Yes, exactly. Nancy Milford wrote a book, “Savage Beauty,” about Edna St. Vincent Millay, the poet. The title comes up for me constantly. It is what nature is, and it is ethereal დ
I did not read this book but it seems to me I feel what it that book about. Let me read it to find if I have right feeling. Wild is all the time beautiful. As you can see the same animals in Zoo look absolutely different. Freedom is the main source of Beauty!
Yes. Animals in the zoo look completely different, depressed and despondent. There is no comparison to seeing animals in the wild. We understand each other დ
What great pictures! I love the first one–can a grizzlie be cute? ‘Cause this one with his grizzlie fur sticking out as if he’d just pulled off a ski cap is sure cute. I hope those 4 cubs and their poor, frazzled mom survive the winter!
Grizzlies can definitely be cute and beguiling, from a distance! 😉 I know those four cubs, and that mama-bear fishing so ceaselessly to bulk up, broke my heart. დ
Such splendid creatures!
✨☀️🙏🕉️♾️☮️🙏☀️✨
I <3 people who <3 grizzlies დ
🙏✨
They are beautiful animals but I wouldn’t want to cross paths with them. We did have a 400lb male black bear wander through our back garden this week. It caused quite the stir as we’re technically a city and have a reasonable dense population. It was a beauty!
How thrilling! I hope you took some pics…. დ
I did! I’ll have to include it in my next post. 🙂
Oh yes, please do! I want to see them. დ
Teddies!!!!
Teddies with teeth! 😉
LOVELY, wonderful 🐻
So happy you enjoyed the bears and thank you for letting me know დ
These photos are absolutely stunning. This is a truly impressive collection of grizzly bear shots.
Thank you very much. It is such a joy to be in the presence of these magnificent creatures დ
What beautiful creatures! How anyone could wish to kill them for amusement is beyond my understanding. You take such fabulous photos, Cindy! Thank you.
It is such a different way of viewing creation and our call to protect all of it. I can’t get my head around it either დ
🙂
Such handsome critters. Lovely, clear photos.
Thank you very much John დ
Are these your photos.. very good
Thank you & yes they are.
Very good photographs – lovely to see the Grizzlies so close up. Seen them in a bear park but never in nature.
Thank you. They are truly magnificent in their natural world. დ
Wonderful photos, Cindy. Bears are such fascinating animals. A couple of years ago while staying in the Smokies, we watched a momma bear discipline her young’ns and also watched her looking up and watch us watching her. My granddaughters will never forget it.
How especially wonderful that you could share this with your grandchildren დ
Beautiful shots!
Grazie mille! დ
Merci de nous laisser approcher ces grizzlies.
Vous êtes les bienvenus et je suis heureux que vous les aimiez! დ
Awesome photos!
Thank you very much Ileana & cheers to you დ
Bears! <3 <3 <3
I <3 people who <3 bears!
Hugs…Bear hugs, of course!
I’m going to add some of these to our November issue. Beautiful.
Thank you dear friend & stay safe and well დ
What a wonderful experience, these are such special creatures.
I <3 my friends who <3 grizzlies დ
Classic shots. Beautifully taken.
Honored. Thank you!