Have you ever wanted to get up close and personal with some real life wild bears without having to worry about becoming a snack? Your dream has just come true, as you can now watch bears broadcast live from Katmai National Park in Alaska!
The bear cam network can be found at Explore.org and has been up and running since 2012. The live feed offers local weather information as well as the best times to tune in. You can easily switch from one camera’s point of view to another with just a click. It’s become so popular that fans tune in year after year to see if their favorite furry friends will make an appearance. It’s kind of an As The Bear World Turns for animal lovers.
Each summer, hundreds of bears roam the park, catching fish and frolicking with their young cubs. There are several cameras situated throughout the sprawling 6,395-square mile preserve. One of the best is at Brooks Falls, where the animals congregate to feed, and where mothers teach their cubs valuable survival skills. Males also often battle for dominance here, each trying to overwhelm the other with their sheer size or agility.
Considered one of the top spots in the world to observe the species, Kamtai has boatloads of bears! Some 2,200 brown bears are estimated to dwell in the park, which exceeds the human population of the Alaskan Peninsula (where the park is located) by about 500. The animals can be studied in their natural habitat without being disturbed by the encroachment of human settlements, which is of great benefit to scientists.
Of course, you can always travel to Katmai and check out these lively locals in person. Bear watching is a huge draw to the park, bringing in thousands of visitors from all over the globe each year. Bookings for the campground fill up as early as January due to limited space. Visitors are briefed in proper bear safety protocols with an orientation video, as well as advice from rangers.
Explore.org has live webcams situated all over the world, giving wildlife enthusiasts the opportunity to see first hand how their favorite animals live and play in their natural habitats. So fire up the laptop and get in on your chance to see bears broadcast live from Katmai National Park!
Featured Image from 🇸🇮 Janko Ferlič/Unsplash
