Drew Hamilton’s goal at the McNeil State Game Sanctuary in Alaska was to capture some great photographs of brown bears catching fish in a river below. He didn’t bargain on a close encounter involving a bear plopping down just feet away.
Capturing the moment on video, Hamilton keeps his cool, and eventually convinces the bear to leave after a few stamps of his feet.
The interaction, while frightening, was not completely unexpected, considering that the sanctuary protects the world’s largest population of brown bears. Likewise, during salmon spawning season, food is plentiful, so the relaxed nature of the visitor is also not surprising.
If you’re a bear enthusiast, consider visiting the sanctuary, which the Department of Fish and Game estimates contains up to 74 bears. Just make sure you keep an eye out for overly curious visitors!
