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2019 Sees an Uptick in Aleknagik Bear Activity

7/29/2019

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By: Aaron Wirsing
This year, we returned to Bristol Bay, Alaska for our 8th year (!) of non-invasive brown bear population sampling. 2017 and 2018 had been slow years, with relatively little bear activity, but so far 2019 has been busy. During our first foray up 
Happy Creek, for example, we felt as if bears were all around us, as evidenced by high numbers of fresh salmon carcasses, prints, and 'kitchens' (areas along the creek bank where bears have flattened down the vegetation for easy access to the fish). The picture below features a a particularly impressive kitchen, where it seemed a bear (or bears) had been using a ramp to slide into a pool full of sockeye salmon. We'll soon be putting this idea to the test with a camera trap. 
Stream with salmon in natural area
We've weathered a bit after eight years (photo by Liz Landefeld).
Aaron Wirsing and friend standing near stream in natural area
Just what we're looking for as far as a bear-wire encounter! Here, a bear that is very likely to deposit hair on our first Eagle Creek wire.
Trail camera photo of bears fishing for salmon in river
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