It might be a bit gruesome to watch, but we caught this bear enjoying a tasty salmon snack to get ready for its seasonal slumber.
People come from around the world to our lodges (this one was caught on camera near Kulik Lodge), since we're known as one of the United State's top bear viewing destinations. We are fortunate to get to know these brown bears, watching them grow up from bear cubs all the way up until they find a den for the cold Alaskan winter.
They spend the fall months fattening themselves up. Hibernation in bears is most likely triggered by a shortage of high calorie food as well as hormonal changes. Bears stay in hibernation anywhere from five to eight months, allowing them to survive our frozen winters and food scarcity. During this time, they don’t eat or drink, causing them to lose hundreds of pounds. Their heart rate may drop and body temperature can decrease by as much as 12 degrees. There’s also almost no brain activity during their winter nap.