This might have been one of the funniest Grizzly Bear encounters that we came across in the Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary.

These two Grizzly Bears were courting each other, and wrestling around with one another, and just generally doing what mating bears do.  We slowly approached them as they wrestled around in the tall sedge grass, and captured some images of the female (the lighter colored bear), pinning down and dominating the male (a real role reversal).

It was like suddenly the two of them became aware that we were watching them, and they both stared at us wide-eyed (as captured in this image), and froze in place.  Much of what I would imagine it would be like catching teenagers in the act.  I think they thought if they stayed still we wouldn’t notice them there.  When they realized that we could see them, they got up and scurried off together.  It was really quite a funny experience.

This image is copyright © Terri Shaddick, if you are interested in using or purchasing this image, or any other images on my site, contact Terri Shaddick at [email protected].

Taken: May 31, 2017
Location: Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary, British Columbia

Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Lens: Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM + 1.4x III Extender
Focal Length: 560mm
Aperture: f/7.1
ISO: 3200
Exposure: 1/1000