Black Bears
Almost a decade ago, I had a memorable experience hiking along part of the Appalachian Trail in New Jersey. I turned a corner, and something large jumped off the path and into the bushes. At first, I assumed it was a mule deer, but something told me to take a second look. Deep in the undergrowth, thirty yards from me was a black bear.
I hadn’t been looking for bears or any wildlife, so this was a complete surprise. I had my camera but didn’t have a long lens, so I took a single photo and kept going, unsure what to do. It honestly took me a moment to process what had just happened. Would a bear attack me? If so, was I supposed to fight back or play dead? I didn’t know anything about bears then, but I rationalized that it had run away from me, so maybe it was safe. I decided to go back and try to get a better photo. Creeping back along the trail, I scanned all around, but the bear was gone.
The photo I took that day wasn’t great, but I could tell it was a big bear. And it haunted me a little, not out of fear, but as a missed opportunity. It would still be a few years before I seriously got into wildlife photography, but even then, I knew it was rare. Over the next few years, I visited Yosemite many, many times. I hiked all over the Sierras, from Kings Canyon to Mount Whitney, but never once saw a bear. Last year, we camped in Tahoe when we expected the salmon to run, but still nothing.
In all that time searching for bears, I’d learned more about them. They are wild animals — with big teeth, huge claws, and powerful muscles — and they should always be respected, but they didn’t scare me. Brown bears are a different story, but black bears are rarely man-killers. They might attack if they’re cornered, surprised, or feel like their cubs are in danger, but for the most part, they’ll keep their distance if you keep yours. Choose your body language carefully, and pay attention to theirs. I’ll fully admit that it’s one thing to read this in a book but another to put into practice, but mentally, I was prepped for the day I found another.
Last weekend, we headed up to Tahoe again for a couple of nights. When we arrived in Tahoe, the air was thick with wildfire smoke, and an ominous haze hung in the air. I’d spoken to a local photographer who’d graciously given me some advice on locations that could be fruitful, so I felt prepared, but time had taught me not to get my hopes up.
We dressed in the dark at 5 a.m. the following day and drove to the first location. Houses surrounded the area, and I knew it was a common place for local dog walkers, but the place was deserted at that hour. We followed the trails through the woods and meadows for an hour, but nothing stirred. By 7 a.m., we were at a second location, but much like the first, it was deserted.
After breakfast and a shower, I sat down with Google Maps to plan the rest of the day. Tahoe is a vast place, and bears could be anywhere, but one thing was sure: we were in a drought, and if you want to find wildlife, you must follow the water. With that in mind, I decided to head back to where we had camped last year and walk along the river.
By 1 p.m., we were at the location I’d planned. I didn’t expect to find bears at the height of the afternoon heat, but I decided to walk around anyway. I found bumblebees, bullfrogs, a few birds, and even a beaver along the trail! I was prepared to hang out until sunset, but with those images in the bag, I wasn’t disappointed with the day. And then I heard something in the bushes.
I froze in my tracks and just listened. I told myself the rustling could be anything, but I knew it was something bigger than a chipmunk. And then, all of a sudden, I saw the flash of a bear cub scamper by. I instantly knew the mother must be nearby, but it was a second cub that I noticed next. Part of me was just grateful to have seen them, but they were fast, and the thick undergrowth blocked any attempts at an image. I waited another minute, and then the mom came into view. She was big, but I remembered everything I had learned, stayed calm, and watched.
It seemed like they were heading to my left, so I walked back along the path to a clearing where I expected them to appear. That gave me ample distance with enough clear space to find focus. Sure enough, all three bears came into the clearing, and so began one of the best hours I’ve ever spent photographing wildlife.
The bear family was so relaxed, and of course, that relaxed me. The cubs climbed trees to forage and play while the sow kept a watchful eye and gently coaxed them along. I ensured she knew I was there, but I backed away whenever the cubs came near, and she seemed to acknowledge that. Whenever she looked at me more intently, I spoke quietly and took a few steps backward.
Over the next hour, she led them to the river for a drink and crossed over to find some berries. She stripped them from the branch while the cubs climbed a tree above her. Entering another clearing, she tore bark from a fallen tree, possibly looking for ants, and one of the cubs copied her. Watching them learn by example was incredible. Finally, they crossed back over the river and headed back into the undergrowth. It was time for us all to part ways, but I whispered a thank you as they went for an exhilarating experience.
The family of bears were so relaxed, and of course that relaxed me. The cubs climbed trees to forage and play, while the sow kept a watchful eye and gently coaxed them along. I made sure she knew I was there, but I backed away whenever the cubs came near and she seemed to acknowledge that. Any time she looked at me more intently, I spoke quietly and took a few step backwards.
Over the next hour she led them to the river for a drink, and crossed over to find some berries. She stripped them from the branch while the cubs climbed a tree above her. Entering another clearing, she tore some bark from a fallen tree, possibly looking for ants, and one of the cubs copied her. Watching them learn by example was incredible. Finally, they crossed back over the river and headed back into the undergrowth. It was time for us all to part ways, but I whispered a thank you as they went for an exhilarating experience.
