Geographic Harbor

Geographic Bay
Nestled within Amilak Bay lies a narrow channel that cheekily opens up into Geographic Harbor, a place where high mountains give a dramatic backdrop to an expansive tidal flat area – it’s like nature’s version of an all-you-can-eat buffet! Here, bears can be seen clamming and fishing for salmon, which they seem to treat as the main course of a gourmet meal. We’ve spotted as many as 40 bears sunbathing on the flats at once, although on a good day, you can count a dozen or more just lounging around like it’s a bear spa day. And don’t be surprised if you catch a glimpse of wolves lurking near the brush line, possibly contemplating whether to join in on the bear party or just order takeout!

These two lovebirds were on what could only be described as a date that’s longer than a Netflix binge. Brown bears, it turns out, have a mating routine that rivals a Shakespearean drama. The bigger bear, being the bruin of the hour, clearly flubbed something on this fishing expedition, triggering a symphony of growls and a dramatic slap! Our girl decided she was done with dinner and took off like a furry rocket, but not before throwing a glance back, as if to say, “No hard feelings, right?” She dodged the lower half of our group with Olympic precision! The gentleman bear stopped dead in his tracks when I stepped out ready to flash my flare, making sure he got the memo that this wasn’t a game of “Red Rover, Red Rover, send Bob the bear right over!” Luckily, one of our clients was there to catch the whole fiasco on his iPhone—while Star was chillin’ up top snapping pics and I was holding the fort at the bottom. Just another day in Katmai, where even bears face the drama of love!