This image was taken in early October in Glacier National Park. There were actually three cubs, but the last did not fit the frame. There are many more in this series.
I first spotted the grizzly family at sunrise. I was able to move in their direction but at about 200 yards away. Fortunately, there was a bluff along the lakeshore which gave me protection and the mother protection so I could film them as they got a bit closer. It was snowing very heavily during the whole time and I lost auto focus completely because of the giant snowflakes. I had to manually focus as the bears approached, using a high ISO. Not ideal conditions and not ideal light, but hey, it’s a grizz family on a lakeshore so you do what you can.
This was one of the most memorable moments I’ve ever had in Glacier, to see this gigantic grizzly family walking through the snow along the lake. As they approached, an elk bugled from across the lake. Visibility was getting worse as winter moved in. What a spectacular place. Please click the image for the full, proper banner, and make sure your window is open full size. This is a wide pic.
Awesome!!! I can just imagine the peace and serenity.
Thx Gline. Great, great park you have up there.
What a great photo! Is is OK for one’s personal use as wallpaper on a computer?
Thx Ralph! Feel free to use the image for your personal use, and for your blog if you are interested. That is a resized image and may not look that good blown up, so let me know if you want with a higher resolution for a desktop background.
Mike,
Thank you so much!
Beautiful!!
Just an amazing photo Mike!! A once in a lifetime shot. I love Glacier and it’s grizzlies….
Thanks guys. Glacier really is a heck of a place. That day in October was one of my most memorable in the outdoors, ever. The amount of wildlife seen and heard, plus the conditions was extraordinary. This was all in a very small area on the east side of the park.
Several years ago my daughter and I were driving through a wilderness area and we had a similar experience. It started to snow so heavily we had to slow to a crawl. Suddenly a large bull elk came out of the brush and stopped in the middle of the road. Soon several more gathered around our vehicle, before they slowly sauntered back into the brush. I haven’t seen that many wild elk in over 40 years. I’ve only seen grizzlies in Denali, but it’s the same magical experience that you remember forever.
Jim – Great story! The snow really adds a lot of drama to the scene.
Where did you see the elk?
Elk were introducted into the Pigeon River Forest (northern lower peninsula of Michigan) which is a state wilderness area. When I grew up we used to see several elk but after years of poaching (and other reasons) their numbers dwindled. Through enactment and enforcement of tougher hunting laws, and effective conservation management, and other reasons, the herd grew and there is now limited hunting to control their population, which helps ensure an adequate food supply and minimal contact with humans. For years there was much litigation to allow petroleum companies access rights to drill for natural gas–which they earned after a 16 year court battle. But the access was limited and they were able to get into the area to drill while also allowing the Elk herd to be preserved. These access roads no doubt affected the native species in the area–but some roads have blocked gates denying motorized access. However, with snowmobiles we pretty much traveled wherever we wanted. I usually opted for snowshoes in the winter–although I used to be an avid snowmobiler. Nonetheless, it’s great to see the elk.
Jim -
Yeah I know about that Michigan elk herd. Very tightly managed for obvious reasons.
You can pretty much sled anywhere you want in the northwoods. Once those two tracks get in there, forget it. I think this is a big reason why the area is missing some of the wildlife it is.
That said, it’s nice to see the cougar back in the northwoods! I think it’s a really positive turn for the area.
That pic should be printed out for a wall frame size, 20-depth-30-length..
I’ve collected art for several years, Bev Dolittle, Leon Parsons, and others..
You busted out a money maker their dude…
If you do it, make me one, I’ll buy it..
Parsons
http://www.onewest.net/~parson/LeonHome.html
During deer season, the DNR would sometimes catch a hunter with an elk on the back of their truck heading down the road. The hunter pleaded ignorance, thinking it was a big deer. It’s rather comical because there would be pictures of elk posted all over telling hunters not to shot the elk. Of course, it one can’t tell the differece between a 500 pound elk and a 200 pound deer, they were either liquored up or blind.