Do hungry bears share?

This bear, on Alaska’s Katmai Peninsula, caught a salmon, but his friend was not so lucky. The first bear was peacefully enjoying his lunch, trying to pack on pounds for the approaching winter, when his buddy came by begging. Will he share?

Sorry friend. This is late august, the time of year when a bear needs every ounce of fat for the months of hibernation to come. Catch your own fish!

A different bear was more generous on that day. This guy had settled down at a prime spot above the waterfall. When a younger bear came up looking for a spot, however, this guy moved away and gave up the best spot on the river for the youngster.

That day last summer at Brooks Falls on Alaska's Kenai Peninsula, my daughter and I saw lots of bears, each with their own unique fishing technique. One small cub, obviously an inexperienced fisherman, huddled near the underbrush on the far shore, unsure how to navigate the rushing water.

Then there was the one nicknamed ‘Mr. Belly Flop’. Check out this little video and you’ll see why. His style will give you a chuckle. I hope you get a chance to go see him and his friends in person.

It’s not easy to get to Brooks Falls to visit the bears, but getting there is part of the fun of the trip. The area is reached by boat or small float plane. See my facebook page for the photo my daughter shot as we started off on our early morning flight over from Homer. There’s a half mile walk from the Visitor's Center to Brooks Falls on a wooden boardwalk raised far enough above the ground that the bears seem oblivious to visiting humans.

Please do yourself a favor and make the effort to get to Brooks Falls, even though it does take some logistical planning. My daughter and I spent two weeks in Alaska last summer, and this was by far the most amazing part of the trip.