There are a number of places in the Tongass where bears congregate naturally when there are fish in the streams, and in the area we visited a boardwalk above the creek had been built to make viewing the bears easier and safer, with minimum disturbance to the animals.<\/p>\n
Because the salmon had been running for a few weeks before we arrived, we were told that the chances of a sighting were good.\u00a0 I think our small group certainly didn\u2019t expect to spot a bear within a few minutes of starting down the trail. In front of us curled up in the bottom of a hollow tree was a black bear trying to sleep. The abundance of salmon in the crystal clear creek below suggested that he had probably eaten his fill, further along the creek through almost magical Middle Earth looking forest where more black bears chasing salmon through the pools and eddies caused by the trees which had fallen into the creek.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Gulls were shrieking loudly as they shared the feast. A large black bear suddenly appeared from behind a tree on the slope above us as he cautiously waited his turn to descend into the creek. I think we probably sighted at least eight different bears in and around the creek and had a wonderful opportunity to watch and photograph their behaviour.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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As the boardwalk left the side of the creek we walked through the ferns and moss draped trees along to the cove where a large number of harbour seals were eating the salmon.<\/p>\n
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This was an unforgettable experience and another excursion I would recommend.<\/p>\n
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