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Katmai Coast 2021 Update- Mom and 4 Spring Cubs!

By · On August 27, 2021
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I spent the months of June and July on the katmai Coast this summer and it was one of the best years i have ever seen. One of the many fantastic aspects was the presence of the second mother with 4 spring cubs that I have seen out there in 25 years!

I have known this female for many years, and watched her grow up as a spring cub. I am very sure that this is the bear Parsnip from the documentary The Great Bear Stakeout we worked on in 2013.

Female brown bears (coastal grizzlies), have an average of 2 cubs. 4 cubs is extremely rare, and the 4th cub usually doesn’t last very long. All 4 cubs were doing fine as of late July.

All 4 cubs seemed healthy, but two of cubs were much larger than the other two. I will be very surprised of all 4 cubs make it through the summer.

Curious cub close up.

I will be guiding expeditions during the month of September this year. I hope to stop in to this northern bay at some point to see how this family is faring. Otherwise I will have to wait till next year. After seeing the famous bear 399 of Yellowstone keep her 4 cubs for two summers i have more hope that Parsnip will as well. More updates to come!


Brad has been a Natural Habitat Expedition Leader since 2005, guiding Alaska grizzly bear tours, Churchill polar bear tours, northern lights expeditions and China panda tours. His specialty is bear biology and ecology of the north country.

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