Wednesday, August 17: Bears, Oh My!

We made the return trip to Stewart/Hyder to check out, once again, for the third time, the Fish Creek bear watching platform. Along the way we passed the Bear Glacier which shows the extent of global warming. 


Bear Glacier in June 2019 above. 
Bear Glacier in July 2022 below. 



The previous two trips to Fish Creek were a bust. We were too early for the salmon run and so the bears weren’t there. This time the chum (dog) and pink salmon were clearly visible in the stream. As we walked from the north parking lot along the raised walkway we were able to observe salmon spawning in the creek. One male pinned a female to the creek bed as she laid her eggs. Other females flanked the male. Then a cloud of sperm sprayed from the male into the water creating a cloud. After he was finished the male swam to the opposite shore and avoided the females while the females seemed to carry on snapping at each other’s lower rear fins. 



In the other branch of the creek we’re the carcasses of many dead salmon and a female grizzly, i.e. brown bear.  She held a salmon to a downed tree and tore at its flesh making cracking sounds as she ate the fish brain. Occasionally she would abandon the carcass and chase randomly after other salmon until she tired of the game and went back to chew on the carcass. 


After a while we left to view the Salmon Glacier. It has receded considerably since 2019. The drive up to the glacier is on a bad dirt road with lots of potholes and obstacles, but it’s worth it on a clear day. 


Salmon Glacier in 2022 above. Southern Terminus. 


Salmon Glacier in 2019 below. Southern terminus. 


Because this glacier is so large it’s hard to see the differences, but they are clearly there. The northern branch is almost gone! 



On the way back we stopped again at Fish Creek and saw a different bear, a larger male. 



Once the male left the area we returned Jeep and headed slowly back to Meziadin Park. It was a good day! 


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