Keith Lusher 08.12.26
An Alaska fisherman captured an up-close encounter with a grizzly bear after the animal swam alongside his boat and began searching for salmon just feet away.
Carter Brown was fishing near Soldotna, Alaska, when he spotted a large female grizzly in the water. Instead of simply swimming past the boat, the bear repeatedly pushed its head underwater while searching for fish.
Brown began recording the encounter, capturing video of himself with the grizzly only a few feet away.
Another bear could also be seen in the background doing the same thing.
As Brown continued filming, the female bear eventually came up with a piece of salmon and began eating it beside the boat.
“I decided to take a selfie video of her as she foraged,” Brown said. “She finds a piece of salmon while foraging and eats it right next to my head!”
Video from the encounter shows Brown remaining quiet as the bear eats the salmon beside him. After finishing the fish, the grizzly returned to searching beneath the surface for more food.
The encounter took place in an area known for both salmon fishing and brown bears. Soldotna sits along the Kenai River on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula, where large numbers of salmon move through the river during seasonal runs.
Those salmon also provide an important food source for Alaska’s brown bears, which can often be found near rivers and streams when fish are available.
While Brown’s encounter resulted in a remarkable video, wildlife officials warn people to give bears plenty of room whenever possible.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service advises people not to run during a bear encounter. If a bear remains stationary, people should slowly move away while moving sideways when possible.
Brown did not have to go looking for a bear during his fishing trip. This one came directly to him.
And instead of simply swimming past, the grizzly stopped for a meal, giving Brown a close-up look at an Alaska brown bear doing a little fishing of its own.
