Here is a quick update on the status of the treasured Katmai Coast Bears after I was able to join my friend Drew Hamilton on a day bear viewing trip out of Homer.
Here is an iPhone time-lapse of the return trip from Hallo Bay to Homer, which is 120 miles. For some reason I couldn’t embed the video- https://youtu.be/3o5TFqCLqJY
It was a beautiful day, with perfect light overcast for photography. When we first arrived there were few bears in the meadow, but within thirty minutes of our arrival bears began showing up from all over the place.
I was super excited to see that a giant male, who was pursuing a female, was actually the legendary Van!!! have known this bear for over ten years and have watched him grow into the biggest bear I have ever seen in my life. He is getting old, and I estimate him to be around 20 years old. He became famous as he starred in the BBC film the Great Bear Stakeout.
I am leaving soon for 6 weeks out there to guide Natural Habitat Trips. I should lots and lots of material from this amazing place when I return in late July…..
Please help us stop the pebble mine from being approved…..
Click this link and take a few seconds please!!!!
Pebble Mine is on the fast track toward permitting, and the US Army Corps of Engineers is pushing this project forward at record pace. We need your help to slow down this runaway train.
Bristol Bay, as you know, is the crown jewel of fisheries and a mediocre permit review is unacceptable. That is why we were delighted last week when California’s Congressman Huffman introduced an amendment in the House budget process that would prevent the Army Corps from finalizing the Draft Environmental Impact Statement with this budget.
This amendment forces the Corps to stop, regroup and include critical missing pieces to its analysis of the Pebble mega mine, like salmon stream surveys and what happens if a toxic waste dam collapses. Unfortunately, this step is necessary to reign in an agency that seems more interested in meeting an artificial and unrealistic deadline than getting the science right and listening to the public. For years now, a majority of Alaskans have opposed Pebble and have been joined by millions of Americans urging strong protections for Bristol Bay. The Huffman amendment provides a critical opportunity the get things right.
Please tell your Elected Official to support this important amendment.
2 Comments
I recognize that gorgeous young female and mother from a couple years ago. Such a gorgeous beauty
And glad to see Van is still around.
I have seen Great Bear Stakeout and i’m also fascinated by Van, and big bears like him, and bears! I loved the show by the way. Gosh since seeing it years ago, i’ve wondered what big man Van had become, how old he was etc. Glad to see this update today! It’s funny, when I opened the page, the picture of Van caught my eye so fast I didn’t even have to read to notice it was van. I can usually recognize animals such as bears and deer by their faces but I have to say Van is probably the most recognizable bear to me, when I look at pictures or YouTube vids.
Meanwhile, have you seen parsnip recently? Is she still around?
Sheesh, how I would love to visit Katmai.
Thanks again for the update, Brad!