#139 in the berries
I found grizzly bear #139 between the Upper and Lower Kananaskis Lakes last weekend. He has a history of being in the news over the past couple of year (not a problem bear just one that people find with relative frequency so there are a fair number of images and articles on him). This time, he was strolling between the forest and the Kananaskis Lake road, grazing on the buffalo berries that are ripe and delicious (for the bears at least – they are too tart for my taste when they first ripen).
I left the bear after alerting one of the rangers to his presence as he was moving closer to a campground. I went for a walk along the shoreline a few kilometres away and returned past the spot an hour later. The bear had crossed the road by then and was grazing on the high side of the hill.
He has been referred to as scrawny in the past so it was good to see him looking healthy and devouring berries. He’s a beautiful bear – especially when he flashes that wonderful smile (please allow for a bit of anthropomorphization. I truly believe animals have personalities and emotions). I hope to cross paths with him again for years to come.
Christopher Martin Photography 
I remember now that I thought of you when the parks people said # 164 was hit by a car some time ago but it was discovered recently that he is alive! He survived the accident with a slight limp. This one is a beauty.You have captured some intimate moments with him.
September 7, 2017 at 4:49 pm
That broke my heart but so happy to hear he’s alive and seems to be recovering.
September 7, 2017 at 8:30 pm
Amazing shots. Be careful out there
August 31, 2017 at 12:09 am
Thanks, Chris. In all my 85 years I have never before heard of “anthropomorphization”. I used to fly around Alaska for a few years and I knew a fellow pilot who always accused his plane of plotting to kill him. He might say to his plane, “OK, how are you going to try to kill me today? Well, you’re not going to get it done today you (expletive)”.
That probably served to remind him to stay on his toes. I would have had a ball accusing him of anthropomorphizing that airplane…and letting him wonder what I was talking about.
Jack Griffis
P.S., Of course, (then) I wouldn’t have known either!
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August 28, 2017 at 8:24 pm
I think I’m guilty of anthropomorphizing a lot. I loved hearing about the pilot and his plane. I can only imagine what you’ve seen in your time in Alaska!
August 29, 2017 at 11:06 pm
Amazing pictures! Animals definitely have emotions and personalities! I agree that they smile and frown like we do. 🙂 Wish the bear lives a long life
August 28, 2017 at 7:16 am
great work
August 28, 2017 at 6:10 am
So Cool! I saw this bear and I even saw you… I drove past you in a black F250 with paddle boards on top. Small world! Awesome photos!!
August 27, 2017 at 1:46 pm
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August 27, 2017 at 1:27 pm
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August 26, 2017 at 4:38 pm
Years ago I visited a Catholic high school with a friend and her son, deep in the Cheshire countryside. We’d met a graduate of the school at a nearby 16th century estate that we were touring. He got to talking about his marvelous high school and so keen was he, he led the way to the school in his car, us following in ours. It was a summer day so when we arrived school was not in session, but at priest was in the middle of painting the high ceiling-ed hall, which was a converted stately home. It adapted itself well to classrooms, with fine tall windows in each room, which I suspect would be frightfully drafty in winter. The priest showed us around the school then made us tea. So we spent a good hour and half there, mostly with this priest. Why I am sharing this story is my strongest memory of this day was the utter calm demeanor of the priest. Later, I concluded it had a lot to do with his faith, having no need to impress, or dazzle. There were long silences that with a more typical person would have felt awkward, not so the priest. Like that priest, I suspect you must have a calmness too, or a special ability that radiates non-threatening intentions, that puts the animals you photograph at ease. These first three photos specially tells a story about you, as well as the wild grizzly bear. Incredible.
August 26, 2017 at 2:46 pm
What wonderful time spent. Thank you so much for sharing that moment so descriptively – I can picture the place and to some extent the graduate and the priest. And, thank you for your very kind words about me. I can only hope that with time and effort, I can build and radiate more of both that calmness and those good intentions – with wildlife and in my life.
August 29, 2017 at 11:32 pm
His expression in the first photo of this article. Wonder what he was thinking? Love this blog, you are bringing my fear of bears to the surface and I’m staring it right in the eyes. 🙂
August 26, 2017 at 1:29 pm
Thank you Maura. They are wonderful eyes to look into. I hope you get to (safely) – they are moments I treasure. Caution around bears is always needed – I hope the fear of bears is displaced by caution and you are then able to enjoy knowing we share some of the wild spaces with them.
August 29, 2017 at 11:41 pm