A KISS

They call her 'Long Nose' and this year she has two spring cubs both still showing their natal collars. Sadly, she lost her first cubs last year (2024) and maybe she learnt from that trajedy. She was hyper vigilant, stayed close to her cubs, defended them from other bears after shoo'ing them up the nearest tree and then bravely chasing any intruders off. She played with her cubs and comforted them. Maybe our presence provided her with a barrier to other bears, with a chance to relax a bit, as rewarded by her nursing her cubs directly in front of us. I will never forget Long Nose, and the tender moments she and her cubs shared with us.

Lake Clark National Park & Preserve, Alaska, USA