{"id":6832,"date":"2019-11-21T15:27:00","date_gmt":"2019-11-21T20:27:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adventurousretirement.com\/blog\/?p=6832"},"modified":"2020-11-04T10:59:10","modified_gmt":"2020-11-04T15:59:10","slug":"wilderness-bear-viewing-and-flightseeing-in-alaska","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventurousretirement.com\/blog\/wilderness-bear-viewing-and-flightseeing-in-alaska\/","title":{"rendered":"Wilderness Bear Viewing and Flightseeing in Alaska"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Scenic bear\nviewing tours from Homer Alaska <\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Is seeing a grizzly bear in the wild on your bucket list?  Wilderness bear viewing and flightseeing tours in Alaska National Parks are possibly the most sought after experiences of people visiting Alaska. There is no better place to see bears than in the Alaskan wilderness!  When planning our 10 weeks in Alaska, one thing was certain, I wanted to go on a bear viewing excursion!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Grizzly<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Alaska is one of the few places left where many species of wildlife are living and thriving in North America.  It offers pristine wilderness, and in spring and summer, Alaska provides an enormous food source for bears.  From berries, grasses, flowers, and salmon, it is no wonder bears thrive in Alaska<\/a>.  And Homer Alaska is a fabulous access point to 3 top wilderness bear viewing areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Alaska Bear Viewing<\/a><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\"Wilderness-Bear-Viewing-and-Flightseeing-Tour<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Bears are majestic creatures, and delightful to watch.  Just imagine arriving on a piece of land,\ndesolate and isolated.  After landing,\neither by plane or boat and taking a short hike through the woods, the view\nopens up to a huge field with grasses and flowers.  It\u2019s surrounded by shrubs in the lowlands,\nthen forests with white-capped mountains soaring in the background.  While taking in the scenery, in the distance\nthere is movement in the grasses.  Suddenly\nclearing the grasses, a large brown bear appears, and then two small cubs romp\nbeside her.  When looking left, two\nteenage bears, likely siblings, seem to be engaged in a game of roly-poly.  Then off to the left, another sow appears\nwith three cubs.  Before long, 14 to 20\nbears are visible all around.  Some are\nbusy eating sedge and berries, others heading to the water to dig up and feast\non clams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tom and I experienced all of this and more on a wilderness bear viewing and flightseeing tour in Alaska at Lake Clark National Parks with Smokey Bay Air<\/a> out of Homer Alaska.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blood-thirsty Versus Shy Bears<\/a><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\"bearviewing-sow-and-two-cubs-\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>
\"Wilderness<\/a><\/figure>
\"Two<\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Many people expressed concern about our interest in seeing\nbears close up.  TV, movies, and media\nhype about bear attacks have made humans afraid of bears.  In reality, bears tend to be shy, and prefer\nto avoid human interaction.  Yes, bears came\nvery close to us many times, but hardly looked at us or acknowledged our\npresence.  It is too bad that humans have\nhad such fear instilled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fear makes us act in the opposite way than we should behave around\nbears.  That fear causes us to do stupid\nthings that could incite a bear to attack, like running or screaming.  Never do these in the presence of a bear!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, a wildlife biologist from Alaska\u2019s Department of Fish and Game<\/a> stated that there have only been 6 fatal bear attacks in Alaska in 130 years<\/strong>.  Only 6 in over 100 years!  Compare those 6 attacks in 130 years to a yearly average of 50,000 deaths from car accidents in North America.  Based on those numbers<\/a>, we should be afraid of riding or driving cars, not bears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are ways to stay bear safe when in the wilderness, and\nI will talk about those later in this article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DISCLAIMER: <\/strong>Many thanks to Smokey Bay Air for hosting me. While I was hosted at no charge, and Tom paid for the tour, I received no payment for this post, and this post is Tom’s and my honest opinion.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Free Versus Paid Bear Viewing<\/a> <\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Black bears and brown bears are found throughout Alaska.  By the time we reached Homer, we saw so many black and brown bears that I wasn\u2019t sure the excursion would be worth it.  Boy was I wrong!  Actually, it was a highlight of our 10 weeks in Alaska.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On our travels, we had seen numerous bears, both black and grizzly, along the Alcan Highway.  In Denali, we saw bears from the camper shuttle bus, and on hikes.  We saw bears fishing in Hyder, Alaska.  Opportunities to see bears for free are numerous throughout Alaska and Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If looking for an adventure for less or for free \u2013 keep your eyes open as you travel. From a car, seeing bears is often a fleeting experience.  People are likely to see bears feeding on roadside grasses, or in fields, and in salmon season fishing in streams.  We had great bear viewing on our own at Mendenhall Glacier, part of Tongass National Park, in Juneau, and in Hyder, Alaska in August.  We spent the mornings and evenings waiting for bears and watching them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After seeing bears both on our own and on a bear viewing\ntour, the best way to observe bears, their behavior, and learn about them is\nwith a guide in an uninhabited remote area. \nSince bears generally stay away from noise and people, it\u2019s less likely that\nthey will hang around places frequented by people and cars for any length of\ntime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To observe bears in their native habitat, an Alaska bear\ntour is the best option.  For a once in a\nlifetime opportunity to see bears up close, and for a great chance to\nphotograph them, a bear viewing tour is well worth it.  While these tours are not cheap, I know they\nare the most memorable experiences of a lifetime.  Certainly, our tour with Smokey Bay Air was very\nworthwhile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Wilderness<\/a><\/figure><\/div>
\"Wilderness<\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
\"Wilderness<\/a><\/figure><\/div>
\"Lake<\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Bear viewing is a big part of Alaska\u2019s tourism industry.  When people ask what we liked best about Alaska, our Lake Clark National Park bear viewing trip immediately jumps to mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bear Viewing Tours<\/a><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\"Arriving<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

We flew from Homer Alaska, a scenic beachy, fishing community providing many different adventures. Homer has access to 3 world-class bearviewing areas \u2013 Katmai, Kodiak, and Lake Clark. Our trip flew across Cook Inlet to Lake Clark National Park.  Bearviewing in Homer provides some of the best experiences in Alaska.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We went on a scenic bear viewing tour from Homer Alaska with Smokey Bay Air<\/a>.  From the time we entered the flight check-in building until we left, the excitement for seeing bears was palpable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A film runs on the monitor while pilots\/guides each prepare 4-5 people for their excursion.  We were asked to suit up in hip wader boots since we may cross streams or rivers.  Smokey Bay Air provides waders, plus offers choices of snacks for before the trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Preparing<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When our small group of 4 was assembled and outfitted, our\npilot, Ian, talked about the trip to Lake Clark, and we watched a film on bear\nbehavior and staying safe amongst bears. \nAt this point, I expressed interest in going\nto Katmai.  That\u2019s when we learned that\nbear sightings were best at Lake Clark over the last several days, and the\nsalmon were not running yet at Katmai.  I\nreally wanted to see bears fishing for salmon and was still skeptical about\nwhether this experience would prove worthwhile since we had seen so many bears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our Wilderness Bear Viewing and Flightseeing in Alaska<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We follow a very tall\nIan out to the 5-seater Cessna 206.  It\u2019s\na very small plane!  We put our packs in\nthe rear to help distribute the weight.  Continuing\nweight distribution, Ian tells us where to sit for the ride out to Lake Clark\nNational Park, and gives us earplugs to dull the plane noise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Flying<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

As we climb into the\nair, we see Homer Spit jutting out 4-1\/2 miles into Kachemak Bay.  Flying across Cook Inlet, the water below sparkles\nin the sunshine, and the majestic beauty of the snow-covered mountains appears\nin front of us.  Natural beauty surrounds\nus on the flight to Lake Clark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Landing in Lake Clark<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After our smooth landing on the rocky and sandy\nbeach at the water\u2019s edge, we deplane for an explorative walk.  We collect our packs and meet up with the 5\npeople from the other Smokey Bay plane.  After a quick review of safety in bear\ncountry, our 2 guides lead us down the beach to a path into the woods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Smokey<\/a><\/figure>
\"smokey-bay-air-tour\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Viewing Areas in the Meadows<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After a short walk through the woods, we arrive at a designated viewing area. We look out at meadows with high grasses sprinkled with wildflowers; then someone whispers \u2013 \u201cBear.\u201d  Excitedly we all search the huge meadow to find the bear in the distance.  We hear more whispers \u2013 bear, bear, sow and cubs.  Bears start appearing across the meadow.  We watch the bears snacking on the sedge grasses, the cubs playing, and then the families resting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Bear<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After watching these bears and their activity for a while, our guides decide to take us on a walk down the beach to another viewing area in the woods.  As we walk down the beach, we are following giant bear prints in the sand.  Whoa!  This feels a bit scary \u2013 these footprints are huge – and recent!  Our guides tell us to stay together as a group, as bears do not attack large groups.  We continue talking as we walk; noise is another bear deterrent.  From the uneven, rocky sand, we turn towards the woods once again and head to our next stop \u2013 another opening from the woods to look out on the meadow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This time we spot a sow and 3 cubs immediately.  Triplets!  The cubs are playfully romping around, rolling, jumping on each other \u2013 oh so cute!  To the left, there\u2019s another sow with 2 cubs, and another a bit further back with 1 cub.  How exciting to watch the mama bears with their adorable cubs.  Most of these cubs are only 5-6 months old, and the sows are teaching them about their food sources.  At times the cubs stop to nurse, too.  I think it can\u2019t get better than this!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Viewing Areas on the\nBeach<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It gets better! \nSmokey Bay guides know exactly where to find the bears, and before we\nactually see them, they tell us where to look and what to look for.  As we approach a mountain that ends at the\nbeach, we learn that bears can often be found here.  Just as our guide finishes telling us a sow\nand cubs descend the mountain right in front of us and head down the\nbeach.  It\u2019s exhilarating to have the\nbears and those adorable cubs so close to us!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our guides ask us to stop and stay together quietly to watch\nthis sow and her 2 cubs.  Momma bears\nwith cubs are particularly protective.  We\nare treated to fun, endearing cub antics as they jump up toward mom and try to\nget her attention, roll around, and lie down from exhaustion, and then run to\ncatch up with her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Wilderness<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In the distance we see full-grown bears clamming at the edge\nof the sea.  The tide was going out so\nthe bears begin to leave the vegetation to go for the protein \u2013 the clams.  Watching the bears at the sea\u2019s edge, we see\nthem sniffing out the clams through the wet sand.  They dig up the clam, open it and eat the\ndelicious meat.  We are watching bears\nfatten up for next winter\u2019s hibernation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bear Behavior<\/a><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\"Wilderness<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s still more \u201cWow!\u201d  We make our way to the beach viewing area that overlooks both the beach and the meadow.  Now we get to watch bear behavior – 2 bears play-fighting; teenage bears playing or maybe courting, and a third bear being chased. Bears come toward us to use the viewing area as a path toward the water.  The bear seems not to know a group of people are right there.  Ian says, whoa\/hey bear, so the bear takes a wider berth around the group.  What a crazy experience to have a full-grown grizzly within 2 arm\u2019s length, yet not care one bit that people are standing there.  All the bear wanted was the clams on the beach.  At this time of year with food plentiful, the bears don\u2019t care about humans unless people are blocking them from the food, taking it, or threatening their cubs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If a bear pops its jaw or looks at you while huffing and salivating, it signals the possibility of an attack.  This is the time to deploy something very quickly.  Smokey Bay Air recommends marine flares since they are quick, very easy to use and deploy.  We saw bears over a 4 month period on this trip, and never witnessed any behavior that looked like a potential attack.  It is a very rare occurrence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Best Time to See Bears in Alaska<\/a><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

The best time to see bears in Alaska is between May and\nAugust.  Bears wake up hungry from winter\nhibernation and are driven from their dens in spring as the snow and ice thaw when\ntheir food sources begin to grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Sow<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Sows, or adult female bears, with cubs in tow, are\nespecially hungry.  She needs to\nreplenish her food reserves so she can continue to produce milk.  Sows and their cubs make their way down the\nmountains and across valleys and streams from the winter den to reach spring\u2019s\nfertile feeding grounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All summer long bears are in search of berries, sedges,\ngrasses, and salmon to prepare for the next year\u2019s hibernation.  They must nourish their bodies and add 20-30%\nbody weight to ensure enough reserves for winter.  For a female with cubs, she\u2019ll need those\nreserves to ensure that she produces milk for her cubs in the long winter.  Summertime in Alaska will provide the best\nchances of seeing bears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Stay Safe when Bear Viewing<\/a><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Most people who have not been around bears think of them as\ndangerous, blood-thirsty, and downright scary. \nFor the most part in Alaska, this is as far from accurate as you can\nget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In North America, yes, bears are the top of the food chain, and they roam Alaska freely.  Unfortunately, fear of bears and their attacking humans has been so hyped up, so most people fear them.  Bears generally live a peaceful life unless provoked.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Attacks can happen when a sow is protecting cubs.  Sows are VERY protective mothers, and most viewing opportunities are in the summer when cubs are present. If a sow with cubs is surprised, has her food source threatened, or her path blocked, she may be provoked to attack. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are going to be in bear country, there are several\nthings you can do to stay safe:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Watch the bear safety films at the Visitor\nCenters.  Watch the videos provided by\nyour tour operator and implement the precautions you learn.<\/li>
  2. Stay with your guide or park ranger when walking\namongst bears.<\/li>
  3. Make sure you are in a group of 4 or more.<\/li>
  4. Have and know how to properly use and store bear\nspray.  (Many more people get injured\nfrom bear spray than from bear attacks. Smokey Bay prefers marine flares since\nthey scare bears and are easier to use.)<\/li>
  5. If encountering a bear, stand your ground, and\ntalk firmly without screaming, to the bear. \nSlowly back away.  Do not run, as\nthat causes a bear\u2019s instinctive reaction to chase.<\/li>
  6. Stay 100 yards from bears, and if they wander closer,\nslowly back away.<\/li>
  7. When hiking make noise so bears are not\nsurprised.<\/li>
  8. Always give the bear right-of-way, an escape\nroute.<\/li>
  9. A bear standing on its hind legs does not\nnecessarily mean it is going to attack. \nIt may only be trying to identify you. <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Personally, I recommend going with an experienced guide if you want to get up close to bears and learn about them.  It is well worth the cost.  Smokey Bay Air is one of the longest-running bear viewing companies with the most experienced guides.  After all, their head guide guided Disney!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    World-Class Bear Viewing Locations<\/a><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    \"Wilderness<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    There are several top wilderness bear viewing places in Alaska.<\/p>\n\n\n\n