15th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Bear and Salmon

This brown bear successfully captured a salmon in Kuril Lake. There is no happier bear than a bear with a fresh salmon in his mouth! The bears at Kuril Lake are in a state of hyperphaghia, meaning they are always hungry. They must gain weight before the winter’s hibernation and catch up to 40 salmon a day to achieve that.

This photo is a finalist in the Natural World category of our 15th Annual Photo Contest. See all 60 finalists here.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 08.2016
Date Uploaded: 11.2017
Photo Location: Kuril Lake, Kamchatka, Russia
Camera: NIKON D500
Copyright: © Galitz Roie
Awards
Photo of the Day: 03.05.18
Editor's Pick
Finalist