Black Bear

Hi W.D.

Thanks for this one on the Black Bear life history.  I love images that tell a true story about wildlife.  Outstanding image!   

I didn't realize that the cones were a food source for bears, interesting! This nicely depicts it with the cones right at the snout. Good details and well composed.

Lovely frame and great eye contact Dean!!!

Great description, shot & comp Dean! I would attempt to open up the shadows a bit

Very nice image! The whitebark pines in Yellowstone were hit very hard by both the blister rust and the pine bark beetles..  Biologists were very concerned that they would all be killed. Fortunately the disease and infestation has seem to have run it's course.  The cones/pine nuts are an important and highly nutritious (high in caloroies)  autumn food source for both grizzly and black bears.. I've seen both species feeding in close proximity.  Grizzlies dig up red squirrel caches and black bears climb to reach them.  The whitebark pine groves in Yellowstone  occur at elevations of 8500' and higher.  Cone crops vary greatly from year to year. This year was pretty good in Yellowstone.