(This is from my archives)
This cub kept climbing up onto its mothers back. Even though Mum’s fur is thick I bet those claws still came through. When the mother went hill a few seconds later, the cub went downhill!
FURRY HITCHHIKER
(This is from my archives)
This cub kept climbing up onto its mothers back. Even though Mum’s fur is thick I bet those claws still came through. When the mother went hill a few seconds later, the cub went downhill!
Tofino Photography 
That cub was really small! And I like the surfing dog.
yes,that cub was small then but will be much larger by now~ that surfing dog I just came upon. I took the shot and then years later the owners came upon my booth at the Saturday artists market. She broke down in tears as their precious fur baby had just passed months earlier. They loved the shot and bought the print.
That’s a sweet story, Wayne!
and all true too. Once I heard that, I stopped selling that print.
Cute!
thank you Tara,do you get many cub shots up your way?
I’ve lived here over forty years and only seen bear in person one time, a young grizzly which was rubbing its face all over the deck railing (it was pretty intense and scary for me). But I do see their scat regularly and smell them.
The only photographs I’ve taken of bear (twice) were in Canada, driving through one time saw a black bear and another time saw a brown bear playing with an inner tube.
you live in Alaska still I assume? You do not venture out to popular streams when the salmon are running to get shots of the bears grabbing salmon? You haven’t gone to Brooks Falls? We only have Blacks on the island,no Grizz.
I must admit I’m comfortable around Blacks but not Grizzly. I’ve not hung out with them enough to be comfortable enough. Body language is what it’s all about.
Maybe set up a trail camera where you see this scat?
Yes, I was born, raised, and reside in Alaska. I’m not really a fan of bears, so I don’t search them out. I do think black bears and polar bears are super cute, though. I don’t do anything commercial (like bear-viewing or fishing, etc) if I can avoid it. The bear (and other animals) where I live are all wild and not too cramped, such as in Katmai or other high-bear areas. I’ve personally never traveled across the Inlet where they are in high numbers, except flying out to remote villages such as Port Heiden twenty years ago (non-animal or photography related). The Kenai Peninsula doesn’t have a whole lot of predators, which is why the moose are in such high numbers, being the highest concentration of moose in the world. They are so in-bred and with so few predators that nearly every mother has twins.
I -did- just discover a wolverine den just yards away from the garden, so I’m hoping to catch sight of it!! They’re pretty elusive, so I doubt it, but there’s always hope.
You’d love this property because it’s on a cliff and there are so many bald eagles, they soar and learn to fly on the updrafts. Always overhead or at eye-level. Down below the cliff is a river which empties right into the ocean on the other side of the cliff… so the eagles are quite happy to live right here.
YOU MAY HAVE A WOLVERINE in your garden! OMG,get the trail camera out and see If you can get video!
Where you live sounds fascinating Tara! Lucky you!
With a large population of Moose in Kenai,why would you believe they are inbred? That usually happens when very few are around. Not sure why twins are born exactly (I mean other then two eggs being released at the same time) but it’s always considered a bonus in the animal world!
thanks for letting me know all of this Tara and let me know If you find Mr. Wolverine please?
So far I haven’t seen any wolverine tracks in the garden… just the moose. The wolverine IS using several trails along the ridge, so I’m definitely keeping an eye out.
The fish & wildlife biologists who study the moose are the ones who say all the moose they check are of the same bloodline, same genetic markers. The twins are a direct result of the inbreeding. Moose are funny because the mothering-instinct is so strong in them, sometimes mamas will steal other female’s babies and raise four instead of two! They will also adopt lost babies or ones whose mamas have died. They are all super cute and I love watching them. There’s a mama who has her twins every year in my back yard (so to speak).
So the large population is due to 1) few natural predators, 2) consistent twin births, 3) abundance of their favorite foods such as willow and birch. Hey I’m not complaining! I Love the moose!! 🥰😍
Well isn’t that interesting Tara.
I did a search for that inbred situation but couldn’t find it? It may be in here?https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/home/library/pdfs/wildlife/research_pdfs/72_leresche_conf_paper_migrations_population_mixing_moose_kenai_peninsula_alaska.pdf
In this one they do mention that as long as food is plenty a female will give birth to twins 90% of the time! Fascinating!
https://www.nps.gov/kefj/learn/nature/moose.htm
Thanks for explaining! Always great to learn something new!
This is such a sweet picture, Wayne.
thank you Robbie,….I once used it for a Mothers Day card!
Paw-dorable!
well said Annette! I know how much you love bears and especially the cubs!
Awwwww . . .
What’d with the dog on the surfboard: surfing or posing?
the owner had told it to get up on the board. Then she walked out into the water and waited for a wave to come and shoved the dog with the wave. The dog was turned that way as It could keep an eye on its master.
Smart dog!
I thought it might have been something along those lines!
Wonderful, Wayne! Hope the weather clears up and you are able to get out there, visit your friends!
Yes,they must be thinking of forming a posse by now!
Fantastic bear capture, Wayne, really endearing and blissfully intimate.
thank you Jet!
The surfing dog does not look very happy. ;-)
true but It was jumping about when its master came in from surfing!
Surfing dog looks unhappily wet – hope he/she enjoys it. As for the cub, there’s only so much clawing a Mom can take!
True,she was a very tolerant mother!
Adorable, Wayne–those bears! No wonder newcomers to national parks and forests think they can be petted! Love the surf dog!
anyone who thinks they can pet a wild bear has serious mental issues already
Very true. A surprisingly large number of people are naive to the laws of the wild. Like selfies on the edge of 300 foot waterfalls…don’t get me started.
the only thing more deadly then a 300 foot fall is wilful ignorance.
and consider the bear just a means to put them out of their misery
Did not see the dog at first, until I came into the site. Aussie’s are smart and willing to train. My ex had one and she rode on his motorcycle regularly. but this one looks a little sad, maybe because it is going the wrong way, but just read the previous comments, too.. The bears are cute but not cuddly. I saw a video online today with a grizzly who takes down one of two newborn moose. When it came for the second one, Mama charged him and s/he took off, but looks like s/he will be back. Sad for the newborns and the momma moose.
I think the dog obeyed its master’s command but wouldn’t of done it normally?
It’s like it’s thinking…..”Ok,I’ll stand here and do what you want but that doesn’t mean I’m happy about it”!
Well this little bear looks huggable – how cute perched on Mom. Too bad Mom forgot the cub was there and it took a spill. Good thing it has lots of fur to cushion the blow!
like Bumbles,Bears bounce!
Ha ha – yes, they are flexible ‘cuz they are young and crush proof ‘cuz they are furry.
Aww! It was worth a shot trying to get a free ride. :)
a silly bear to be sure!
Very nice and sweet post Wayne 😊
thank you Kamal!
The youngster is tired and can see better from way up there :)
and that may be what was happening Sandra but it was short lived
Reminds me of the children’s book, Blueberries for Sal. 😀
great imagination Jennie!
And a great book! Thanks, Wayne.
Great capture of mom and cub! They look so cuddly, but I’m sure they aren’t.
That cub and mother are precious, Wayne. I am catching up here, and enjoying your wild companions and beautiful countryside. The photos are uplifting.
About 3 weeks ago, I had a heart attack, and now have a stent in one of my coronary arteries. I was told had I come in any later, I would have died. I always appreciated life, and do so even more now.
sorry to hear about this Lavinia! Very happy my pictures help you Lavinia!
Get well soon!