The Catch

“The Catch”

In the fall of 2019, we were very fortunate to have photographed four Spirit Bears in the Great Bear Rainforest in northern British Columbia, Canada. We spent a week staying in Marvin Robinson’s settlement, a native of the area, and the guardian of the Great Bear Rainforest. Everyday he took us by boat to the various streams in which he knew the bears were known to come down to fish for the protein rich salmon that was needed for their winter hibernation. After hiking along bear trails through the lush boreal rainforest, climbing over fallen logs, traversing up and down steep cliffs, and crossing various streams, it was here we found “Warrior” a large female Spirit Bear, recognizable by the scar across her snout.  Totally oblivious by our presence we watched her for hours as she meandered up and down the stream catching salmon one after another.  Seeking out the high protein areas, they often only eat the brains and the eggs of the females, leaving mounds of carcasses throughout the steams and forest floor. This in turn provides the rich nutrient soil that makes the lush rainforest the amazing and pristine environment it is today. Truly heaven on Earth!                           

-Stan Masters

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