Brown Bear, Pack Creek, Admiralty Island, Alaska – Image 2817

I shot this image of a bear laying down twenty feet or less from where I was standing at the spit viewing area at Pack Creek. The bears are totally wild. After 40 plus years of being around people and being raised in a protected area that does not allow hunting, the bears have become accustomed to people. The Forest Service and Alaska Department of Fish and Game controls the movement and placement of the visitors at Pack Creek. Over the years the bears have learned to respect the long established patterns that keep the people and bears close but apart. The bears can roam freely, but the humans are confined to the approximate 10×30 foot spit viewing area. The bears seem to understand the ground rules and will only come “so close”. For many humans the “so close” is frightening close. For me that frightening “so close” is an amazing opportunity for really close observations and unbelievable photographic opportunities. Don’t get me wrong, when the bears are getting this close my heart is racing. I appreciate the Forest Service and Department of Fish and Game for carefully managing the area that gives us such amazing opportunities. Enjoy the photo and thanks for visiting. Camera body: D700, Lens: Nikkor 70-200mm f/4 /digital capture/ISO 200© Mark Kelley