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Car Park Closed for Bears


Car Park Closed for Bears
Photo Information
Copyright: James Parker (Jamesp) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1305 W: 0 N: 5107] (15234)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-05-30
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon EOS 1Ds MkII, Canon 400mm 2.8 IS
Exposure: f/5.0, 1/400 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): CeltickRanger's favorite Bear photos [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-06-06 4:59
Viewed: 666
Points: 48
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This Grizzly (and two others) were eating grass in a car park just below Lake Louise (less than a mile). On the way up to the lake I noticed that the car park was closed off, but it was only on the way down I saw one of them out of the corner of my eye - then I noticed the signs actually said the car park was closed because of bears (we don't have similar situations in the UK). This was taken with my 400mm 2.8 + 1.4x converter - it was also hand held.

The grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis), also known as the silvertip bear, is a subspecies of brown bear (Ursus arctos) that lives in the uplands of western North America.

Grizzlies are normally a solitary active animal, but in coastal areas the grizzly congregates alongside streams, lakes, and rivers during the salmon spawn. Every other year, females (sows) produce one to four young (most commonly two) which are small and weigh only about 500 grams (one pound). A sow is very protective of her offspring and will attack if she thinks she is being threatened.

Male grizzly bears can range from weights of 180 to 680 kilograms (400–1,200 pounds) and stand 2.44 m (8 ft) tall on their hind legs; the females are on average 38% smaller. This sexual dimorphism suggests that size is an important factor in the male's ability to successfully compete for and attract breeding opportunities. Their coloring ranges widely across geographic areas, from blond to deep brown or red. These differences, once attributed to subspeciation, are now thought to be primarily due to the different environments these bears inhabit, particularly with regard to diet and temperature.

The grizzly has a large hump over the shoulders, which is a muscle mass used to power the forelimbs in digging. The hind legs are more powerful, however. The muscles in the lower legs provide enough strength for the bear to stand up on its hind legs, giving it a better view of its surroundings. The head is large and round with a concave facial profile. In spite of their massive size, these bears can run at speeds of up to 40 kilometers per hour (25 miles per hour). However, they are slower running downhill rather than uphill because of the large hump of muscle over the shoulders.

Grizzlies can be distinguished from most other brown bear subspecies by their proportionately longer claws and cranial profile which resembles that of the polar bear. Compared to other North American brown bear subspecies, a grizzly's pelt is silver tipped and is smaller in size. This size difference is due to the lesser availability of food in the grizzlies landlocked habitats. They are similar in size, color and behavior to the Siberian Brown Bear (Ursus arctos collaris).


Although grizzlies are of the order Carnivora, they are actually omnivores since their diet consists of both plants and animals. They have been known to prey on large mammals such as moose, deer, sheep, elk, bison, caribou and even black bears. Grizzly bears will feed on fish such as salmon, trout, and bass, and those with access to a more protein-enriched diet in coastal areas potentially grow larger than interior individuals. Grizzly bears will readily scavenge food, behavior that can lead them into conflict with other species, such as wolves and humans.

The grizzly bears that reside in the American northwest are not as large as Canadian or Alaskan sub-species. This is due, in part, to the richness of their diet which in Yellowstone consists of whitebark pine nuts, roots, tubers, grasses, various rodents, army cutworm moths and scavenged carcasses, none of which match the fat content of the salmon available in Alaska and British Columbia. During early spring, as the bears emerge from their dens, elk and bison calves are actively sought. The bear will move in a zig-zag pattern, nose to the ground, hoping to find unsuspecting animals to feed on.

In preparation for winter, bears will gain hundreds of kilograms of fat, during a period of hyperphagia, before going into a state of false hibernation. The bear will often wait for a substantial snowstorm before it enters its den. Presumably, this behavior lessens the chances that predators will be able to locate the den. The dens themselves are typically located at elevations above 6,000 feet on northern-facing slopes. There is some debate amongst professionals as to whether grizzly bears technically hibernate. Much of the debate revolves around body temperature and the ability of the bears to move around during hibernation on occasion. Grizzly bears have the ability to "partially" recycle their body wastes during this period. In some areas where food is plentiful year round, grizzly bears skip hibernation altogether.
anel, PaulH, ramthakur, eladen, eng55, eqshannon, Gert-Paassen, boreocypriensis, jaycee, nglen, rousettus, gracious, vanderschelden, Miss_Piggy, CeltickRanger, Adanac, Argus has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1242 W: 0 N: 2237] (9414)
  • [2008-06-06 5:04]

hello James,
Just a short drop-in to make compliments on this natural and well balanced picture. Funny to read that car-parks are closed because of bears! Brown Bears (not grizzlies)are returning to Switzerland since about 2-3 years, but the risk that they might be shot is quite big. The last one has been shot 2-3 weeks ago.
Amitiés
Anne

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1068 W: 26 N: 3206] (11487)
  • [2008-06-06 5:12]

Hi James,
no, no such problems here in the UK - maybe the odd irate Donkey but no bears! A fine shot from a hand held position with good detail, excellent composition and spot in DOF - your notes are very good too - 25 mph!
Have a good weekend mate,
paul

Great picture of this car park trespasser, James.
I am surprised the way these huge bears make their presence felt in the areas frequently visited by human beings.
I think the credit goes to people who pose no threat to them in the present age when the concerns for preservation of wild life have turned into a top priority.
Hope you enjoyed your trip.
Regards.
Ram

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 474 W: 3 N: 474] (1475)
  • [2008-06-06 6:42]

Hi James,
Wonderful capture.POV,pose of bear,details and composition are excellent.
Thanks for posting.

Nice shot. The fur detail is good considering this was a hand held shot from so far away. Great composition.

At the entrance to the campgrounds at Yosemite, there are many B&W 8x10 images of what these can do to a car!!! I was quite surprised, as some vehicles are not very good protection if one of these is either angry or hungry?!:-) Well seen and a nice capture for you...a man who keeps his eyes open.
I am well read in Carl Jung...When asked, about how to heal from an "illness" of the mind...Jung suggested to his patients, "Through them, not out..." He was saying that by going through the process of this scourge, we get our battle scars and those are the ones which make us stronger. There are no magic pills nor no quick answers to some of life's problems...but simply to grow through going through and learning...it can be a daunting challenge, but look at your talent James!!! That was born of seed....it grew through many years of a different way in seeing the world..and you are given a talent, albeit by perhaps an unusual harsh way....Your strength and courage show in your tenacity and simply in your strong images...
Peace be with you my friend;
Bob

Hello James,


Here we don't have bears eccept in the Zoo.
Nice capture from these beautiful bear.
Good noto's too.

Gert

Hi James, superb capture of this poor bear my friend! Today I have so many educational obligations (exams..) Soryy for not additional comment. But perfect shot. TFS. Cheers,

Bayram

  • Great 
  • pvs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1159 W: 255 N: 2639] (11925)
  • [2008-06-06 8:18]

Hi James,

A great capture of this grizzly,on sunday I will go to the North (of sweden) and to make some shots of the swedish brown bear from a hide,hope I can make some captures this time,thanks

Paul

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1911 W: 8 N: 4976] (16095)
  • [2008-06-06 8:46]

Hi James,

Sounds like the bears are taking over! They are posing many problems supposedly because so many people have fed them. How lucky you were to see three Grizzlies and to get this wonderful shot. He seems to be looking right at you and posing. A beautiful scene with the big tree in the background.

Jane

Hello James,
Very nice capture of this Grizzly, nice details and composition,
great notes... Well done

Everton

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2130 W: 9 N: 5960] (22528)
  • [2008-06-06 12:47]

Hi James. i did not know the bear had such a hump on its back. Once again you have done so well with a hand held shot with the 400 lens. Great detail in the wet fur with natural looking colours. well done TFS.
Nick..
Have a nice weekend.

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1888 W: 245 N: 6180] (22002)
  • [2008-06-06 13:57]

Closed because of Bears! Yikes!
Imagine that happening here... "Car park is closed because of visious bunnies invading the area!" :-)
I love the isolating composition.
Great lighting and colours.
Superb DOF.

Well done, James!

Joe

hello James,
Anothor bear from Canada with your great capture. nicely composed and focused. Natural habitat look very beautiful. you are lucky to see them in such a beautiful place. thanks for sharing also for good informative notes. have a nice weekend,Ahmet

Hello James,
Good shot even with hand-held from a distance!
good sharpness with natural colour and details
well done
cheers
Tony

Hello James,
This fellow probably parked his Porsche:-)
Beautiful animal you photographed here.
Well done
TFS
Annick

Hallo James
This is indeed a huge but lovely thick furred animal, captured in a lovely pose between the greenery. I always have a feeling that bears are cute, even if it is huge and dangerous. Perhaps, the thought of a cuddly teddy bear is what I always see in my minds eye when I look at these photos. A well taken shot of this beautiful creature. Thanks for sharing and enjoy your day.
Kind regards
Anna

Fabulous shot. I can see why they're call silver tip. You can see the silver tips on the fur. Wonderful!

Hi James,

Great capture of this Grizzly. Excellent sharp details, nice composition and BG, beautiful colours.

TFS

Pekka

hello James

great image of this great wild animal, with fine POV, DOF
and framing, excellent luminosity of the image, excellent sharpness
and details, and a great eye-contact of the Grizzly with you,

TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1111 W: 1 N: 4518] (15132)
  • [2008-06-08 23:19]

Hello James,
Very well captured grizzly my friend you make me jealous. These great bears are always entertaining to observe. It looks wet here as I believe it was raining when you were here. Superb piece of work James , thank you.
Rick

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2770 W: 151 N: 7984] (24857)
  • [2008-06-09 1:08]

Hello James,
Excellent capture of a Grizzley showing the reason for its alternative name well. Nice natural BG.
Interesting to read that the car-park was closed because of one of the attractions of the park!
TFS this fine image,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2585 W: 170 N: 7879] (24911)
  • [2008-06-09 1:10]

Hello James,
Just as well that the car park was closed - it would be a bit scary to have a Grizzly parked next to you!! You managed to get a very fine capture though of this one, that of course looks quite cuddly and harmless! :-)
Very well done!
Many thanks and best wishes, Ulla

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-06-09 10:22]

Hello James

Wow!
What a neat capture.
These guys are the ones you don't want to mess with.
Well composed with very good focus and sharpness.
TFS

Rob

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