January 25, 2011

Grizzly Bear Series – Part 2, Stand Up!

We humans get tickled when an animal takes on what we normally consider a human characteristic. Here’s your gigantic word of the day: anthropomorphism. It means the attribution of human motivation, characteristics, or behavior to inanimate objects, animals, or natural phenomena. So when a big old grizzly rises from his usual stance of all four paws and stands up, you know that folks are delighted with the show and snapping their cameras lickety-split!

With a little luck, I was able to capture a few moments when grizzlies stood up for us! This furry one was quite a character and provided many glorious poses for us. (I am assuming that it was a female because I didn’t spot any “equipment”.) She strolled her way from upriver down to the viewing station. Right before she crossed the river, she stood up to see if the coast was clear from other bear threats.

The gal proceeded to thoroughly entertain us for about 20 nonstop minutes. It seemed like over an hour! This is the bear that I featured several months ago in a picture, showing her ready to chow down on a newly caught fish. Shortly after she finished her snack and failed an attempt to catch another fish, she stood up again! This time, the pose was on a rocky island and even included a slight leg raise! And the crowd went wild, LOL…

Are you wondering why bears sometimes stand up on their hind legs? Ah, it helps them get better views and smells! Grizzlies’ eyesight is about the equivalent of humans, but they can smell up to a mile away.

Here’s another bear that we saw fishing on an different day. He was getting ready to pounce on his prey in the shallow water. Check out those claws!

There’s more to show you, dear friends, so please come back to visit later on this week.

12 comments:

  1. Oh you bet I'll come back. These are fantastic. I can't imagine what a thrill it was to actually see them.

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  2. Love your bear stories and pics! Keep 'em coming!

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  3. Great pics. I love how she looks like she is walking in the second one.

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  4. I ain't no Anthropooooop...that thing you said...Hahaaa....
    These are Great!! How far away were you?? Knowing YOU, you were probably about to ask her if she'd like Shrimp with that salmon...Hahaa
    Beautiful Beautiful, shots Miz Donna...can't Wait to see the rest!
    hughugs

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  5. Wow Donna! That must have been something to see!! Thanks for sharing!

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  6. So they are standing up, just to see/smell better. No deep animal/psychological reasons, hu? ,-)

    Eeeek, those claws could give nightmares.

    Hugs and ♥'s...
    'Cause Valentine Day is coming!

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  7. Awesome photo's Ms Donna!!

    Thanks for sharing. I love it when you do. :)

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  8. How amazing! What a capture...with YOU being captured! Great photos, Donna! ♥

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  9. Wow! You go to the coolest places! Beautiful pictures in all their glory!

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  10. With Marty munching on the right and staring at your beautiful photos, it was all I could do not to sit back in my chair! They look so sweet and human..like you could give them a "bear" hug. Then you see the claws!! Yikes.

    Absolutely gorgeous!!

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  11. They're so cute, it hurts to look at them! They look like meerkats when they stand like that!

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  12. Hi Donna: Thanks for stopping by my blog...Great bear pics...Where were they taken?...and weren't you a little nervous to be so close?
    :0 patti

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Marty, here! Donna loves comments, and I faithfully pass them on to her. Thank you so much for visiting!