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Welcome to Watkins Nature Photography!!!

Updated on January 25th, 2008

Earl: The Frankenstein of Grizzly Bears

Sunlight colors the calm waters of the river a deep, penetrating blue. As the river descends and picks up speed, it races between the islands and boulders, briefly becoming a turbulent, tumultuous white cascade before quieting down.

Glaucous-winged gulls sail on the gentle updrafts above this raging concourse; their cries carry above the roar of the falls. The scent of decaying salmon and of the sea permeates the air. Over thirty grizzly bears stand within this realm of blue and white water. They range above, within and below the falls, standing stoically motionless. All are waiting for that blur in the water that signals the passage of a salmon before they thrust their muzzles into the icy, turbulent river.

But one bear, more than any other catches my attention. This bear will never make the cover of any outdoor or environmental publication as he is an ursine horror to behold.

His name is.......Earl. He is twenty five years old, blonde, slow moving and stiff legged, possibly arthritic with chunks of flesh ripped out of him, a long scar running down is right check, and ears that were long ago ripped off by other bears while fighting.

Usually, photographers are attracted to the cute or the beautiful. And those are certainly subjects I like to photograph as well but I also like to photograph that which is unusual, or in most people’s mind may be considered horrific or grotesque.

Out of all the bears at McNeil, Earl (in my view) has the most character. His scars, the way he moves, his lack of ears, all tell a story of a bear that has lived his life and has overcome tremendous adversity to reach such a ripe old age for a male bear. Each scar is a testament to his will to survive, to compete with others, to reproduce. He embodies the ultimate characteristics of a male grizzly bear representing the tenacious will of a species intending to survive.

Cover material for a major publication in today’s superficial culture? No way. But he is a bear that due to his battle scars and old age best symbolizes those characteristics (strength, resolution, independence, determination, etc) that I feel are best associated with grizzly bears.

A Day with Earl:

One day while at the viewing pad viewing and photographing bears on the McNeil (its common to view bears anywhere from 10 feet or less to 100 feet or more away), Earl slowly walks by in his stiff legged fashion not even paying us a second glance. He is completely oblivious to the small group of humans who are only a few feet away.

As he walks by in his slow, arthritic fashion, it was downright painful to watch him. Eventually, he makes his way down to the river and begins to fish. After fishing for some time, he plunges his big, furry, scarred head into the cold, rushing waters and catches a struggling salmon in his powerful jaws.

Clamping his jaws shut on the still struggling salmon, Earl slowly walks to shore and then continues the arduous and arthritic trek up the small hill that will have him pass us to the left.

While Earl is slowly making his pilgrimage up the hill another adult, male grizzly, but younger and slightly smaller begins to trail him from just a few feet behind. Thievery is a common practice of McNeil River bears and this bear is intent on snaking Earl’s salmon.

Earl, unaware of this potential salmon thief continues his slow and methodical trek, has only fresh salmon in mind. Bears can consume a tremendous amount of salmon during a day and as the day progresses they can become picky in what they eat. Early on when they are most hungry they may eat almost everything, but later in the day when they are fuller, they may eat only the brains and roe. In fact, I have witnessed them catching a salmon only to let it go, as it was presumably a male, but then keeping the females to enjoy the protein rich brains and roe.

Both bears walk right by completely ignoring us, one focused on his destination to enjoy his meal, the other focused on stealing it.

Roughly 70 feet a way from the viewing area, the bears reach a small knoll and the younger bear makes his move to steal the salmon. In a flash, and in a move any pro wrestler would be envious off, Earl reacts and body slams the younger boar. With the younger boar now on his back and all four legs sticking up in the air, Earl grabs him by the throat and the younger boar freezes all movement and resistance.

The lack of resistance signifies the submission of the younger boar and freezes Earl into a pregnant pause. Neither bear moves, until Earl releases his grip on the other bear’s throat and steps back a pace.

Grizzly bears are opportunists, and as the younger bear is allowed to rise up on all four paws, he maintains his presence of mind. The salmon momentarily forgotten in the heat of battle lies a few feet away, only to be quickly snatched away by the younger bear as it runs from the scene of the crime.

Earl momentarily confused, sways his battle scarred head back and forth searching for his missing meal. So, even though Earl won the battle he lost the prize.

Recent News on Earl:

The above incident occurred when I had visited McNeil for the second time in 2002. I never expected to hear about Earl again. But in 2006, the Anchorage Daily News did a story on McNeil and began describing this Frankenstein of Bears, with various scars, no ears, etc. Of course I knew who they were talking about. Earl had finally made the big time, being a part of a news story.

After reading the article, I was most impressed that Earl had survived another four years and was now an ancient 29 years old. In Denali we have had female bears live up to 32-33 years old and while I was last visiting McNeil, Teddy was 25 years old and had two cubs with her in 2002, but males usually take allot more punishment than females. And to have one live this long, I felt for myself was most impressive.

Feel free to visit my blog at: Myspace_Bill_Watkins.. This blog can lead to various discussions regarding photography, equipment, how images were taken, wildlife questions, content on the website, environmental issues, scientific studies, etc.

Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a great day.

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