https://billwatkins.photography/portfolio/mcneil-river-grizzly-bears
The above image is of Pete Johnson, Todd Shorey, Bob Tourtelot and McNeil River Refuge Manager Larry Aumiller and his daughter.
Merry Christmas Everyone!!!
Within the newly posted McNeil River Bears and Experience Gallery are images of not only bears but also visitors. I tried to capture the experience of McNeil in addition to images of the bears themselves. These images include both Bob Tourtelot and Pete Johnson (friends) who were with me on my 2002 trip.
Bob was a long time Denali Tundra Wilderness Tour Driver and Pete worked in the Park Hotel maintenance department for years.
Additionally, to kick off the gallery is a very special bear, it is a profile view of...........Earl!!! The Frankenstein of Grizzlies.
Earl - The Frankenstein of Grizzlies from the 2002 trip to McNeil River State Game Sanctuary.
From the Introduction:
I am sure that some (or most) of you are asking: why did he post this old, scarred up bear as his cover image?
The vast majority of publications if not all them, when they post images of grizzly bears it is always of bears that are cute, cuddly, fully furred, without scars or are engaged in various behaviors or in spectacular settings.
What these publications are missing is that those old and/or scarred bears represent the pinnacle of success within their natural environment.
They have survived their cub-hood and time as subadults (no small thing). They have grown into adulthood, mated and/or have given birth to new generations of bears.
Furthermore, they have battled over mates, fishing spots, carcasses, and protecting themselves from other bears.
They have withstood the harshness of winters, survived the years where the berry crop has failed and/or where salmon runs have declined, potentially impacting their critical fat reserves.
Additionally, they have survived trophy hunters and/or proposed development schemes that would decimate their habitat and/or encroach upon them (the proposed Pebble Mine is a great example).
Every scar tells a story of their adaptability, survival and longevity. It is awesome in what these older bears have achieved in their lifetimes; achievements that are seldom recognized by people.
When I first saw Earl back in 2002 at McNeil, he immediately resonated within me. Here was a 25 year old, blonde male bear that was scarred, missing his ears, had chunks of flesh ripped out of him, was stiff legged and I assume, arthritic.
He was glacially slow moving and his fishing for salmon would have tested the patience of a Buddhist monk. Yet, he was by far, my favorite bear from my 2002 trip to McNeil as I felt that he had the most character.
We will never know the stories from those scars, but we can certainly imagine the hardships and battles that Earl and other old bears have lived through.
He was the ultimate example of a successful, male grizzly.
Three years later, while reading an article on McNeil and in the article they gave the above descriptions and I knew exactly who they were talking about. It was Earl.
They gave him the moniker: The Frankenstein of Grizzlies.
Undoubtedly, this moniker had to do with his appearance but if one dives deeper, it is reflective of his success and longevity.
In Denali, we have had some female bears that have made it into their early 30’s, but I am not aware of any male bear reaching such a ripe old age whether in Denali or elsewhere.
I am sure it occurs but I would suspect that it is a rare occurrence.
Regardless, Earl survived at least to age 28, an awesome achievement.
I wanted the “poster bear” for the McNeil gallery to reflect his achievements and longevity and be representative of all older bears. And of course, the goal of any young bear (whether knowingly or not) is to survive into old age.
Consequently, this is why a photo of Earl graces the cover of the McNeil River Bears and Experience Gallery.
Be sure to scroll down to read more text including the poem by Robert W. Stevens - The March of the McNeil.
Happy Holidays Everyone and all the best.
Bill