A couple of weeks ago I wrote about an intense encounter in Katmai where a solo bear attacked a spring cub, only to be saved by it’s mom.  Will we had a similar encounter at Anan Creek the week before.  

Two spring cubs showed up near the viewing platform crying very loudly, and then were chased up a tree by another solo adult.  The cubs ended up climbing to the very top of the spruce tree.  Eventually the mom returned however she was in an awkward position as she would just push this bear closer to her cubs if she climbed after it.  

Even through it was really close to us, tree branches often obscured our view.  Eventually the aggressor climbed down and then was chased up an adjacent spruce.  The stand off had already gone on for over an hour as the day was coming to an end.  When we left the cubs were still half way up the tree, I hope they survived.  This photo is from their initial climb up the tree.

A couple of black bears fishing at Anan Creek, near Wrangell Alaska. Funny, this bear like many of the bears took the salmon into one of the rock caves to eat it in private.