When it comes to harvesting salmon, brown bears in Alaska have perfected a distinctive hunting method that involves standing on the edge of a waterfall and catching fish as they try to swim upwards.
The chance of a lifetime presented itself to wildlife photographer Nick Dale in Brooks Falls, Alaska. He recorded the event with his Nikon D800 and sent it to LatestSightings.com.
Despite spending a week at Brooks Falls during the yearly salmon run, Dale was only able to get two shots that were up to par. The experience wasn’t without its difficulties because the summer in Alaska was chilly and rainy.”The difficult shooting conditions did not make getting the ideal shot any simpler. I was successful in getting two photos that were identical. The brown bear was waiting for the ideal opportunity to capture a salmon in midair as it stood in the shallow water. One click of the shutter was all that was needed to capture the scene.”
Salmon that are traveling upstream on their way to breed are preyed upon by brown bears. This fish have significant challenges in the rivers of Alaska. They are completely exposed to the bears since they must take to the air to advance up the river.
“The event was amazing, but it was also extremely uncommon. I had to take a float plane to the lodge each morning, and planning the journey was difficult. But if you’re fortunate enough to go, my recommendation is to play the lottery and hope for the best. One of the most incredible moments you’ll ever have as a wildlife photographer is capturing brown bears at Brooks Falls catching salmon.”
Fish like salmon are well recognized for having a high fat content. This means that bears can get the most calories possible from a meal that appears to be tiny.”I wanted to capture the iconic shot of a bear with its mouth open, catching a salmon in midair. But getting the shot was not easy. As I pressed the shutter, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe at the majesty of nature.”
