About the Alaskan Coastal Brown Bear
Brown bears have been legends in North America for as long as mankind’s memory. They’ve represented the powerful frontier since Lewis and Clark published their journals, and their story of meeting a brown bear captured the imagination of their readers. The Coastal Brown Bear, larger than it's interior grizzly cousin, can only thrive where it has the resources needed to support it's massive bulk. Bears are an indicator species, meaning that when the Coastal Brown Bear is thriving, the habitat is thriving too. When you get to see many of these amazing creatures grazing off of sedge flats along the coast or chasing salmon in creeks further inland, you are seeing an untouched, old, and still-thriving world. In order to protect such an incredible animal, we must understand them in their natural environment, undisturbed by human presence.
Summer in Katmai
early summer
June to mid/late July finds us along the coastal sedge flats, watching as the bears beach-comb and graze on succulent spring grasses. It is mating season—we may see large males pursuing the females. June is the time new spring cubs are being introduced into the general population of bears. Young sub-adults are playfully celebrating the return of summer.
Mid-Summer
In mid/late July to mid August, many of the streams and rivers along the Alaska Range fill with salmon returning to the very streams in which they were spawned. The bears with hefty appetites after a long winter's fast are waiting for the salmon. Each bear has their favorite fishing spot and unique fishing style.
Late Summer
From mid-August to September, our bear viewing tours in Homer, Alaska, reveal fat, glossy brown bears thriving after the salmon run. With appetites satisfied, they roam between salmon streams and hillsides bursting with ripe berries, gearing up for denning season. These agile giants, now sleek and lumbering from the bounty, offer a stunning sight on every Alaska bear watching trip.
THE BEAR FACTS
Bears are predictable
They are only unpredictable if we don't understand them.
Bears are social
Bears of one area are familiar with one another and meetings consist of complex social exchanges.
Bears live in a social hierarchy
Mature males are generally at the top while cubs are at the bottom. Bears maintain their relative position within the hierarchy by being combative.
Bears are not territorial
Bears share home ranges, however, bears will defend their personal space. Bears have a "critical space" around them—this critical space is different for every bear and varies from situation to situation.
bears are curious about their environment
While bears usually choose to avoid people, they often explore and examine new things in their world, be it a person walking or a tent—this is not aggressive behavior.
Bears are not always aware
Bears are a top-of-the-food-chain predator. They have few fears. A bear following a trail doesn't always look ahead and a sleeping bear often sleeps very soundly.
A standing bear is not acting aggressively
Bears stand to get a better sense of what has attracted their attention.
Bears can see at least as well as we do
And their sense of smell is many times more acute than ours.
Females with cubs are no more dangerous than any other bear
BEAR VIEWING ETIQUETTE
On our bear viewing tours in Homer, Alaska, we follow strict guidelines to coexist respectfully with Katmai’s coastal brown bears. The golden rule? We’re guests in their home—never interrupt their natural activities. Our goal is to observe without altering bear behavior. These bears, accustomed to our presence, often recognize our groups and tolerate us because we’re predictable.
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Bears are smart and curious, often as interested in us as we are in them. We position ourselves openly, letting bears see us, but we never approach them. If they wander closer—whether sub-adults or females with cubs—we stand our ground calmly. This consistency ensures they don’t learn to displace people. By staying quiet and predictable, we’re rewarded with incredible photo opportunities and unforgettable moments as bears relax nearby.
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Our Homer bear viewing adventures are ethical and responsible. Human-habituated bears, unspoiled by food associations, remain remarkably tolerant and safe. At Emerald Air Service, we’re committed to preserving this harmonious bond between people and Katmai’s coastal brown bears.
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For more information about Bear Viewing Etiquette, read this article.
