How in the world does Katmai National Park's favorite Momma Bear get her rambunctious cubbies to the den? Watch 128 Grazer do her best!!!
Last year I discovered the explore.org/bears webcams in Katmai National Park in Alaska. Those luscious brown bears grabbing salmon in their mouth is just part of the story up there. The cams allow viewers an insight into the lives of these great bears...all aspects...eating, sleeping, playing, fighting, raising cubs, even the death of a beautiful cub was viewed. I know that last one sounds gruesome and, believe me, it's still hard to think about, but in the course of the 2 day ordeal following the little bear's collapse, bearcam viewers around the world saw the incredible vigil kept by the mother and sibling. I will never forget that experience and to know that it was shared by so many others is amazing to me.
Fast forward to this summer, when the salmon run brings the bears and their newborns back to Brooks Falls. One of the bears (128 Grazer) returned with her first litter of cubs - a feisty trio of very dissimilar sizes. They were given a variety of names by cam viewers. Note: park staff give independent bears a number and only occasionally a nickname. Cam viewers disregard that protocol freely. :) Besides, cubs aren't given numbers until they become emancipated subadults, so nicknames help to distinguish them when discussed in the chat. And believe me, this trio was very frequently the topic of conversation!!! Especially when they went over the falls one night as their horrified mother looked on, helpless!!! Video of that event was on the news around the world and made quite a sensation on the internet!
With that as the backstory, I bring you, "Twas the Night Before Denning" - 128 Grazer's efforts to get Peanut, Walnut, and Butternut up Dumpling Mountain and into the den. I realize there's a lot of "inside" stuff going on here, but I think you'll get most of it. I used footage captured from the webcams using Bandicam software and the photos of some very generous photographers who have been fortunate enough to actually visit Katmai in person! (Please watch the credits at the end - and stay for the surprise for bearcam watchers.) I hope you enjoy it!
note to me...file is "twas the night before denning 121616 ntsc dvd std as mpeg"
