Bears in Alaska’s Lake Clark National Park

On our Alaska Bear Watching Tours we will see bears that live along the coast of Cook Inlet and Chinitna Bay. Coastal Alaska Brown bears are different than the interior Grizzly bears. Brown and Grizzly bears are the same genetics but what makes them different is the fact that Coastal Brown bears live along the coast of Alaska where it’s a much more mild climate and a more readly available food sources primarly salmon ware the interior Grizzly has to live in much harsher conditions with a less available food source and a shorter season to obatain it.

The coastal brown bear feeds primarly on sedge tidal grasses most of the spring/summer season and although it’s a “grass” its extremely high in protein. As the summer progresses the Alaska brown bears start to feed on returning salmon. They will turn there attention to salmon mid July tell the end of the salmon runs in late fall. Berries, clams and other various plants are mixed into there diets too.

Bear Behavior

Bears of Lake Clark National Park start emerging from hibernation as early as March but generally speaking mid APRIL thru Early May. Mating season starts in mid May and ramps up in Late may tell early June. During mating season its typical to see adult male brown bears fighting each other for gaining favor of a sow or female brown bear.

It is very typical to watch bears gather together in the sedge grass fields to feed and take naps, some days you will be able to see as many as 20 plus brown bears together. The SOW bears with cubs (typically 2 cubs but sows been seen with 3 or more cubs) will isolate them selves from the big male boar brown bears.Brown bears typically live 18 to 25 years but some have made it to over 30 years old.