Black Bear, Pink Salmon, Anan Creek, Alaska – Image 2766

I am continuing with bear photos for the next two weeks. Today, I will being doing an Alaska Wildlife Alliance SE “Wildlife Wednesday” presentation with Jay and Jayleen Beedle starting at 7pm in the UAS Egan Lecture Hall. I will be showing bear images. Here, a black bear poses with its freshly caught pink salmon at Anan Creek. The reason some 50 black bears and 15 coastal brown bears hang out at Anan Creek is the pink salmon run. Anan Creek supports the largest run of pinks in Southeast Alaska with an estimated run of over quarter to half a million fish depending on the year. This makes Anan Creek one of the most productive pink salmon streams in the world. Shortly after hatching in Anan Creek, pink salmon fry head to the ocean. Pinks spend about two years in the ocean before returning to their natal creek to spawn. They weigh about three to four pounds at maturity. Enjoy the photo and thanks for visiting. Camera body: D300, Lens: Nikkor 70-200mm F/4, ISO 800© Mark Kelley