Blog - Denali Conservation, Wildlife & Landscape Photography

First day, late evening twilight as a male grizzly bear stands in the excavated hole in the snow and ice preparing to feed on a five month old bison carcass. Black Tail Ponds/Yellowstone National Park/Wyoming/April 2023

Photographing Grizzlies Feeding on Carcasses

Last April in Yellowstone I had the opportunity to photograph and video a grizzly feeding on a five month old bison carcass over a four day period of time.

This is probably, one of the most volatile situations that a photographer or observer can find themselves in depending on the bear and the situation.

In many ways, it was a return to the distant past when I took advantage of many situations in Denali from as early as 1990 to possibly up to 2006 or so. The following are some examples that some may remember:

The bear kill (caribou) across the Nenana River - north of where Riley Creek enters the Nenana River, another kill (moose) just north of the Chalets on the Nenana River, cow moose that was killed in the small pond just north of the RR tracks off the Parks Highway in 1990 and the same year and time - moose kill two miles south of the kill RR tracks & pond (wolves).

2000’s Tek Event - yearling bull moose (East Fork Wolves & grizzlies), caribou kill on the East Fork River fed upon by a female grizzly and cubs and the East Fork wolves, etc.

In each of the above situations, I either had a significant obstacle between myself and the bear (Nenana River) or I was in a group of people and/or had my truck close by. Distances varied but probably none were closer than 100 to 150 yards.

I have never attempted to do this in the backcountry with no significant obstacle, distance or refuge; it is that important as grizzlies are highly possessive of their kills. They do not differentiate between people and other animals who wish to feed on a carcass. Their aggressiveness applies to both large animals as well as smaller ones, including ravens and magpies.

Individual grizzly temperament can vary with certain individuals being more volatile than others but, one won’t know the individual bear’s testiness until you actually observe it under such a situation.

Even though I have never experienced it with a grizzly, there is always the potential for things to go sideways……..fast. Continuous observation of the bear’s body language to determine agitation is a must as are the actions of the photographer to minimize movement and noise.

It is not a time for others to ask questions of photographers, chatter, slam car doors, honk horns, etc. Long lenses are a must to minimize disturbance and to provide as much of a safety cushion to the photographer as possible.

Don’t even think about approaching a grizzly on a carcass and leaving the relative safety of the group and/or the vehicle behind.

Typical Grizzly Behavior and Differences with the Yellowstone Bear

Typical grizz behavior is to feed on a carcass and then mostly or partially bury it and then lie on or adjacent to it. This is done to prevent other scavengers from having access to it. Sometimes they will come and go from the carcass.

The Yellowstone situation was the longest amount of time (four days) I have spent observing and photographing a grizzly while it was attracted to a carcass and it differed from the norm.

First off, this bear had a consistent, yet rough schedule of visiting the carcass in the early morning (before we arrived). It would then retreat to the forested slopes of Mt Everts to sleep most of the day away and would then return to the carcass in the late afternoon between the hours of 3-5 pm.

For the first three days, the bear was pulling up pieces of meat with its paws and long white claws. This is after it had excavated a huge hole in the snow and ice of the pond. It would then take the meat to the side where it fastidiously consumed it.

The carcass itself was still safely underwater in the pond, safe from any other potential scavenger.

Periodically, the bear would look up at the large crowd of photographers, visitors and observers. It was certainly aware of us and I do believe that the noise of car doors slamming and chatter at least in one case, encouraged the bear to leave the carcass earlier than it would have.

Visitors & photographers who have gathered to view a male grizzly bear feeding on a five month old bison carcass. Blacktail Ponds, Yellowstone National Park, April 2023

This is not unusual in Denali with visitors being so excited that there can be chatter that disturbs the wildlife. In so doing, it can shorten the wildlife viewing when the animal leaves the area. If visitors wish to see wildlife for an extended period of time in a close setting they need to keep their voices down and ideally save the chatter for later.

On the early morning of the fourth day (before we arrived) the bear had dragged the remains of the bison carcass from the hole unto the shore’s left edge. For the first time in five months, the mostly skinless skull, rescued from the waters of the pond looked out at the outside world.

After feeding for an extended period of time, the bear once again left for the forested slopes of Mt Everts but………did not bury the carcass.

I would later hear that wolves from the Rescue family group had passed through but had not fed. Additionally, ravens and magpies would periodically visit the carcass in the morning and afternoon.

Why Do It?

This leads us to the fundamental question of why photograph a grizzly on a carcass with its potential dangers? Even when one attempts to take precautions to insure one’s safety?

No precaution is full proof and so an acceptance of that reality is a must. Furthermore, no book, lecture, video or photograph can replace actual experience in learning wildlife behavior.

Furthermore, photographing this topic can lead to a sharing with the public of grizzly bear behavior, possible patterns that may develop, body language and/or vocalizations, what to be aware of in the backcountry (never approach buried carcasses), carcasses that can be attractive to bears (and other scavengers) for months on end.

Additionally, kills open the door to most dynamic behavior in the park by a variety of predators/scavengers. In the past, I have witnessed bear fights over kills (Polychrome Unit 8 in the East Fork river bed), wolves interacting with bears and in the 2000’s Tek Event - successfully drive off five different grizzlies (a female and two spring cubs and two independent bears) that the East Fork wolves intensely battled to claim the carcass.

Other scavengers including coyotes, foxes, golden eagles, ravens, magpies, black bears (although, not likely in Denali), and of course The Number 1 (due to rarity) wildlife sighting in the Denali that guarantees pure, unadulterated excitement if Gulo gulo (The Gluton - how appropriate) a wolverine shows up.

I have never had the opportunity to photograph or video a wolverine with quality equipment. This alone is reason enough to try and especially with carcasses that are in open areas with a clear field of vision.

Carcasses are magnets for wildlife activity and observing seldom witnessed behavior. They are quite literally, learning and observation meccas for wildlife behavior. Which is one of the primary reasons I moved to Alaska in the first place.

You don’t know who is going to show up and it can take hours, days or even months before something occurs but it will happen; one just has to be patient. Time is irrelevant to wildlife.

Photographing Denali's Wolves

In my previous photography of Denali’s wolves, staking out carcasses was the principal way in which I photographed them. The reason is that carcasses create predictability in the wolves movements.

Wolves are gorge feeders, meaning that they will eat up to 19 lbs of meat at a time and then temporarily leave the carcass for the den or rendezvous site to cache meat, regurgitate meat back to the pups, to rest and digest and afterwards, return to the carcass. They may be gone for hours but they will return.

Additionally, when wolves are on the move and trotting along at 5+ mph or so, it is impossible for anyone laden down like a pack mule with camera gear to keep up. If the wolf is coming towards you, you have a brief amount of time to grab a snap shot before it passes. If it is trotting away from you, you may be able to take a rear end shot but that is not the most ideal look for any wolf.

Photographing at carcasses allows one to prepare for the return of the animal, maintain distance, establish and play the angles of the shoot and prepare ahead of time for a brief or lengthy amount of time that the animal is there.

Carcasses act as temporary hubs for wildlife to travel and return to. Dens and rendezvous sites would act in a similar fashion.

Nature's Darker Aspects and Understanding

Ideally, nature photography should be about illustrating and bringing about understanding to the public about nature’s darker aspects. This includes scavenging, predation and even cannibalism which includes Denali’s most prolific and cutest little cannibal……………………. the Arctic ground squirrel.

Cannibalism is not restricted to cute and cuddly Arctic ground squirrels but also includes Denali’s most popular animal: the Grizzly Bear.

Illustrating and discussing these topics without judgement shines a light on the true difficulty and nature of these animal’s lives. This brings about understanding, acceptance and support for all wildlife regardless of whether they are predator or prey.

The highest level of understanding is where one recognizes that there is no dark or lighter side of nature. That wildlife does what they do to survive, reproduce and live out their lives as nature intended without human judgment, morality, superstition or destructive religious views.

If achieved, this level of acceptance creates an unbreakable foundation for conservation. In its purest form it cannot be corrupted by the darker aspects of human nature if we collectively and overwhelmingly protect both wildlife and wilderness. This we should do, not just for wildlife and wilderness but for ourselves as well.

Wildlife and wilderness contribute to our own emotional and spiritual lives and help to provide inspiration to us……if we are open to it. It may sound odd, but I feel far more spiritual observing and photographing a grizzly feeding on a five month old bison carcass than I ever have in any kind of church, temple or building. The same would be true of wolves and anything else within nature.

For myself and others, sacred places are not buildings but are natural and wild landscapes and ecosystems with all of its natural inhabitants.

In my life, I feel all of nature is a necessity; not a luxury.

All the best.

Bill

To see the full video on YouTube go to: Black Tail Pond - Carrion Grizz

Shorts Videos:

Black Tail Pond - Carrion Grizz - Short

Carrion GrIzz - Marinated Bison Carcass

Carrion Grizz - Scent Trail & Importance of Winter Kills

Carrion Grizz - NPS Closing of Areas to Insure Safety of Visitors

Carrion Grizz - Time is Meaningless in the Consumption of Carcasses

Carrion Grizz - Differences Between Grizzlies & Wolves on Carcasses