White Claws

While out on our Grizzly Bear Photo Safari, Josh—our guide—was eager to get moving down the river on that cool early September morning. At the time, we didn’t know why… but he had heard that an old, familiar bear had been spotted nearby.

As we rounded the final bend in the river, there she was.

“White Claws.”

Josh shared how she earned her name from her long, pearly white claws—so distinctive, you couldn’t miss them even from a distance.

The rapids kept us from getting any closer, so we drifted at a respectful distance while Josh held the boat steady. For nearly an hour, we watched her go about her morning.

First, she carefully buried a dead salmon—saving it for her two cubs. Then, with quiet determination, she devoured a massive 30-pound salmon. And finally, she settled into the water, letting the river flow around her as she digested her early morning feast.

There was something deeply humbling about witnessing her in that moment… strong, focused, and completely at home in the wild.

She was truly a sight to behold.

- Stan Masters

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