Black Bear, Anan Creek, Alaska…Image 2975

A black bear sits outside a small cave scratching an itch. I shot this photo from the photo blind that the US Forest Service maintains at the Anan Creek Bear Observatory platform near Wrangell, Alaska. This is one of the very few streams that supports a large population of both black and coastal brown bears. Better known bear areas like Brooks Falls, Katmai Coast, and Pack Creek support only brown bears. I like the diversity that Anan offers, and it is one of my most favored spots to photograph. This image illustrates the month of April in my 2017 Alaska Calendar. Enjoy the photo. Thanks for visiting – Camera: Nikon D800, Lens: Nikkor 80-400mm F/4.5-5.6, ISO 200, f/5.6, hand held, digital capture ©Mark Kelley