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All fishers are not created equal

May 26, 2013 Lodge Guide

grizzly caught salmon — Click to enlarge

Just as all grizzly bears are not the same size or the same colours not all have the same ability when it comes to catching salmon. The fall viewing area on Knight Inlet’s Glendale River has an abundance of pink salmon and this attracts the bears. The estimated of grizzly salmon consumption runs from 40 to 100 pounds in a day depending on the size of the bear. Even if you take a low number of fifty pounds considering the pink salmon average weight are 3.5 to 4 lbs. They still need at least 12 to 15 fish a day to fatten for the winter. Bigger bears allot more. Bears fishing for salmon is not a hobby it is a lifestyle.

Grizzly Bear watching on the Glendale River – 4 of 7

salmon tail in grizzly mouth — Click to enlarge then click again

The other side of the viewing stands from yesterday’s posting shows a grizzly bear enjoying a meal. The time of the spawning season determines how much of the salmon the bears eat. When the salmon first arrive and the bears are the hungriest they eat the complete salmon and the same occurs at the end of the season when they want to get as fat as possible. In between these times grizzly bears are selective in their eating habits often catching only female salmon for their eggs. Also only eating the skin with its layer of fat, which is desirable, as is the brain. This bear is about 20 meters (60 ft.) from the viewing stands and has one interest and that is food.

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All fishers are not created equal

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Grizzly Bear watching on the Glendale River – 4 of 7