Best Day Ever
Imagine you’re a wildlife photographer. You’re used to heading out with hope and anticipation, but you never know what the day will bring. Still, you can dream, right? Well, imagine you went to Tahoe with a good friend, hoping to photograph some black bears (Ursus americanus). What would the perfect day look like?
Snow is forecast for the next day, but when you arrive, it’s a crisp autumn morning. The trails are relatively quiet, and dappled sunlight falls through the trees, producing excellent conditions for hiking and photography. And you did your research before leaving home. You knew the bears wouldn’t be hibernating, but they’d be looking to pack on the pounds before the snow came. Standing beside Taylor Creek, you look into the water and see exactly what you hoped: the red backs of Kokanee salmon swimming in their hundreds. This is a good sign!
You begin walking the trails, following the creek and occasionally looking up into the branches above. You see plenty of little birds and chipmunks, but it’d be no fun if the bears made it too easy. An hour or two passes, however, and your patience is rewarded. A mom and two cubs appear in the woods.
You’ve prepared for this moment. You know that’s important to let the bears know you’re there but you mean no harm. You give them space, talk gently, and demonstrate the correct body language. Now it’s up to the bears to decide what they’re comfortable with. Mom looks in your direction, registers your presence, and continues to amble along with her cubs, completely unconcerned. All three are incredibly chill.
For the next hour, you, your friend, and a couple of other respectful photographers are alone in the woods with the three bears. Mom and cubs meander along, rolling over pinecones and sniffing out some tasty treats. The cubs are curious, occasionally standing upright, scratching at tree bark, or clambering on rocks. You hang back at an appropriate distance, observing their behavior and taking photos. It’s a perfectly serene morning.
After a while, you wonder what other scenarios you could even hope to photograph. It’d be nice to see them at the creek or climbing trees. Almost as if the idea had been shared telepathically, the mom leads her cubs toward the water. You cautiously follow along.
As the three bears near the creek, something catches their attention. It’s a solo male bear. The cubs immediately climb the nearest tree while the mom stands guard at the base. You know anything could happen, so move backward, ensure every bear has a clear exit path, and hold your breath.
As it turns out, the male is young and curious but not truly a threat to this sow. He edges closer, but she moves towards him with aggressive body language. He retreats. He gives you a good look at him and some beautiful profile shots before continuing his day and disappearing into the woods. The cubs take their time defending from the tree, but before long, they’re back beside Mom and ready for lunch. The little party heads down to the creek.
You give the bears a wide berth and find a fallen tree you can climb on. It’s a comfortable spot to watch the action without interfering, and you watch the bears fish for the next half an hour. Mom is an expert. She casually watches, waits, and then reaches into the water to pull out all the salmon she can eat with the ease of someone plucking strawberries from a branch. The cubs are more chaotic, sticking their heads completely underwater and dropping as many salmon as they catch. Still, there’s enough for everyone to feel satisfied.
Eventually, the bears have eaten their fill and it’s time for a nap. Mom selects a tree and ushers the cubs up it. You’re surprised they chose a small, fragile-looking tree while giant firs stand nearby, but they know what they’re doing. The cubs spend a while playing and scratching in the branches while mom is quicker to relax. They’re almost at eye level, and you have one more chance to take some photos.
As the three bears settle down to rest, it’s the perfect opportunity to take your leave. They’ve been such obliging subjects: calm, varied in their behaviors, and stunningly beautiful. You whisper a thank you and head back to the car while there’s still plenty of light, exhilarated with the day.
The best day of wildlife photography ever? Just imagine.
