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Black Bear

This photo of a Black Bear in was taken on August 8th, 2010, on Fox Island, in Resurrection Bay, Alaska.  We were doing a tour and staying overnight in a cabin on Fox Island.  Upon arriving, there were bear warning signs, which we thought was odd, given it was an offshore island at the edge of a steep-walled fjord.  Staff told us there were bears that showed up every other year or so though, swimming over from the nearby peninsula.  But, they told us not to worry much, since it had been a week and a half since the bear had been seen.

 On our last morning, as we walked along the rocky beach towards the dock where the boat would pick us up, we stopped in unison upon noticing the large dark shape that had appeared 25 yards in front of us.  We had quite a staring contest with this guy, with me snapping photos, until he finally decided to retreat.    It was terrific to see him so close, and thrilling, but you only want him staring at you for JUST so long before it gets a tad on the nerve-wracking side.

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