Anan Creek Bear Gorge
Tongass National Forest, Alaska, USA · Arctic & Subarctic · temperate_forest
About this place
Observe rare Ursus americanus and Ursus arctos sympatry driven by hyper-abundant pink salmon in Tongass old growth.
For kids: Visit a mossy waterfall canyon where black bears and brown bears share the same giant salmon buffet!
Anan Creek Bear Gorge · 360° Habitat Camp
What to look for
- Bedrock salmon plunge pool — Oncorhynchus gorbuscha bottleneck. Centre the bedrock plunge pool concentrating migrating pink salmon
- Old-growth refuge spruces — Arboreal cub-refuge trees. Scan the thick-barked Sitka spruce & western hemlock refuge trees
- Mist-drenched fern & moss wall — Temperate rainforest bryophyte mat. Locate the bryophyte-draped canyon wall storing rainforest moisture
Source: Chi & Gilbert (1999), Ursus — Temporal & microhabitat partitioning between sympatric black and brown bears at Anan Creek.
Ask together: How do sharp curved claws help smaller black bears stay safe around much bigger brown bears?
Field quiz
Kids' question: Why are black bears much better tree-climbers than big coastal brown bears?
- Shorter, sharply curved claws that hook right into tree bark
- Wings hidden under their arms
- Lighter hollow bird bones
Answer
Shorter, sharply curved claws that hook right into tree bark
Adults' question: How do black bears at Anan Creek minimize direct conflict with dominant coastal brown bears?
- Fishing mostly in bright midday hours while brown bears peak at dawn, dusk, and night, plus using steep escape trees
- Digging underwater tunnels beneath the waterfall
- Forming coordinated packs of ten black bears
- Mimicking bald eagle calls
Answer
Fishing mostly in bright midday hours while brown bears peak at dawn, dusk, and night, plus using steep escape trees
360° photo: G. Edward Johnson, CC BY 4.0
See it live: Live check: Anan Creek Rainforest Bear Cam
- By day
- Black bears, brown bears, bald eagles, harbour seals & pink salmon Distinguish species by profile: brown bears show a prominent scapular muscle hump and dished facial profile; black bears have straight muzzles and no shoulder hump.
- By night
- Nocturnal brown bears fishing by touch & rushing rainforest rapids Larger brown bears increase Anan waterfall usage during crepuscular and nocturnal hours when human observatory decks are quiet.
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