Sparring Bears 1
This photograph was taken in Lake Clark National Park, Alaska. These two bears were pacing up and down along the shoreline of Silver Salmon Creek seemingly ignoring one another, when suddenly they erupted into a territorial fight.
The bears roared ferociously, bared their teeth, and pushed and shoved each other with fierce intensity. Water churned, rocks flew out from underfoot, and strings of saliva sprayed from their mouths as the bears sparred for dominance.
The fight lasted just a little over a minute, and believe me, my heart was racing the entire time, as I felt exhilarated, awed, and a little frightened, too (we were close enough to the bears that I was able to take this photograph at only 210 mm). Can you guess which bear won the contest? The bear on the left was the victor, and the bear on the right slunk away.
Remember, you should never approach bears without being accompanied by a reputable bear guide!