Close Encounter: Bear Catching Salmon

Later that night we went back to Solomon Gultch fish hatchery at high tide because we heard there was a female brown bear that had been coming every night to feed. Sure enough she didnt disappoint!!

It was such a thrill to be sooo close to a WILD bear out in the open (besides sitting in our car alongside the road w/ the windows down where we could speed away at any moment necessary).

Our car wasn't anywhere near this spot for a safe get-away, BUT don't worry...there is more than just a chain-linked fence separating us from the bear....the fish ladders are between the fence & the rock, so there is a wide/deep drop-off between us (as seen in this photo below):

She was highly annoyed with the seagulls who kept trying to steal her dinner!

But she was completely unshaded by us spectators watching the dinner show! ;)

The hunt:

The chase:

The catch:

The kill:

Yum!!!

We were privileged to get to watch her go through about 8 of these cycles until she was full! 

The circle of life!

Here's a "few" of our favorite photos:

Again, we marvel at God's amazing wildlife & creation and are humbled by the chance to experience it "up close and personal"!