A young grizzly bear cub nursing from its standing mother. The cub, in its second summer, will soon begin weaning off of its mother’s milk and begin hunting for itself. Grizzly bear cubs do not remain with their mother longer than 3 years in most cases.
The pair stand near a cove on the Katmai peninsula of Alaska. Katmai National Park and Preserve is one of the best locations in the United States to observe grizzly bears in their natural habitat. Grizzly bears are an endangered species in the lower 48 states, with only small populations remaining in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and the Pacific Northwest. However, the grizzly bear population in Alaska is thriving and well. Grizzlies are so common in Alaska that they peacefully co-exist with humans i many areas of the large state.
Stock Image #20080814-141132