Watch This Grizzly Turn Into an Expert Fisherman and Perfectly Filet a Salmon

Written by Kirstin Harrington
Updated: October 18, 2023
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Grizzly bears are expert hunters. A grizzly bear will bite its prey in the neck or back to kill it. It may also break the prey animal’s spine with one hit from its front paws and that is often enough to kill the targeted creature. 

In addition, bears have a history of biting prey in the snout, leaving massive teeth gashes that are very painful. A video on Twitter shows us just how skilled these massive apex predators are when it comes to having fresh food. 

Watch the Full Video Below!

Bears eat a wide variety of food. Did you know that they’ll stomp on ant hills and devour the minuscule insects when they run away? After they’ve finished eating ants, they will visit a nearby tree and tear off the bark.

Closeup of Large Grizzly Bear

When grizzly bears stalk their prey, they will typically attack from behind.

©Jacqui Martin/Shutterstock.com

They do this in hopes of finding tasty grub under the surface. All this being said, a grizzly bear loves nothing more than fresh salmon. Said video online has a giant grizzly bear sitting idly in rushing water with a salmon in its paw. 

Like a professional chef, the bear takes its sharp nail and peels back the skin of the fish before tossing it into its mouth. The still-living fish has a sealed fate and it’s not looking too great. 

How Do Bears Hunt For Salmon?

Fishing techniques are frequently ingrained habits. Numerous bears employ their mother’s methods in addition to new ones they have picked up independently. Although some bears have learned a variety of techniques, others stay with what works. 

The sockeye salmon will leap near enough for bears to catch in their mouths as they perch on the crest of waterfalls and watch for them. When space opens up, some younger bears may also adopt this strategy of fishing, which is often used by older bears and can protect this fishing location. 

Grizzly bears fishing in Brooks River

Grizzly bears fishing in Brooks River.

©Michal_K/Shutterstock.com

It is risky to stand above the falls, though. Bears rarely change positions once they have found a spot to stand because they occasionally tumble off. When there are lots of salmon splashing at waterfalls, this is a good strategy to use, but when there aren’t any fish jumping, bears are sparse. 

Bears frequently chase fish and try to swipe them to the bottom of rivers. This is frequently utilized towards the beginning of the salmon run but since it requires a lot of energy, it is promptly stopped when the fish run starts to decline.

The Best Salmon Hunting Spot

Brook Falls in The Katmai National Park is one of the most popular places to spot bears looking for fish.

©iStock.com/Mark Kostich

Brook Falls is one of the most popular places to spot bears looking for fish. The majority of salmon migrate across colossal rivers and lakes in July, away from bear fishing grounds. Brooks Falls puts up an interim fence in the way of migrating salmon early in the run. 

As a result, bears find this to be an especially productive fishing location. People from all over the country travel to Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska to watch bears. 

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Antoni Murcia/Shutterstock.com


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About the Author

Kirstin is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering animals, news topics, fun places, and helpful tips. Kirstin has been writing on a variety of topics for over five years. She has her real estate license, along with an associates degree in another field. A resident of Minnesota, Kirstin treats her two cats (Spook and Finlay) like the children they are. She never misses an opportunity to explore a thrift store with a coffee in hand, especially if it’s a cold autumn day!

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