Brawling bears go ‘head to head’ over salmon in rushing Alaska river, video shows

Don Sweeney
·2 min read
14

Two brown bears go “head to head” in a brawl over salmon on the Brooks River in an Alaska national park, livecam video shows.

The video, posted to Twitter by Explore.org on Sunday, July 2, shows the bears tussle in the splashing water at Katmai National Park, known for its live bear cams.

The bears briefly swat at each other and wrestle in the rushing river before facing off in a standoff, the 43-second clip shows.

“Brooks Falls heated up last night as two dominant forces went head to head,” the Twitter post read. “No serious injuries reported.”

Explore.org identified the bears involved as Bear 856 and Walker.

On its website, the organization described the two bears as among the largest and most dominant on the river.

Bears are feeding on salmon in rivers at the national park as they bulk up to hibernate next winter, the National Park Service said.

The park holds an annual Fat Bear Week contest in October, when the largest bears can reach up to 1,400 pounds.

Established in 1918, Katmai National Park and Preserve spans more than 4 million acres in southern Alaska.

What to do if you see a bear

Bear attacks in the U.S. are rare, according to the National Park Service. In most attacks, bears are trying to defend their food, cubs or space.

There are steps people can take to help prevent a bear encounter from becoming a bear attack.

  • Identify yourself: Talk calmly and slowly wave your arms. This can help the bear realize you’re a human and nonthreatening.

  • Stay calm: Bears usually don’t want to attack; they want to be left alone. Talk slowly and with a low voice to the bear.

  • Don’t scream: Screaming could trigger an attack.

  • Pick up small children: Don’t let kids run away from the bear. It could think they’re small prey.

  • Hike in groups: A group is noisier and smellier, the National Park Service said. Bears like to keep their distance from groups of people.

  • Make yourself look big: Move to higher ground and stand tall. Don’t make any sudden movements.

  • Don’t drop your bag: A bag on your back can keep a bear from accessing food, and it can provide protection.

  • Walk away slowly: Move sideways so you appear less threatening to the bear. This also lets you keep an eye out.

  • Again, don’t run: Bears will chase you, just like a dog would.

  • Don’t climb trees: Grizzlies and black bears can also climb.

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