23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Wildlife
SWEEPERS

Diffused soft morning light reflecting on the mud flats of Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. As a coastal brown bear discards the remains of an unearthed bivalve, competitive gulls sweep in for the scraps. Gulls rely on the bears' foraging and powerful digging of razor clams for an easy source of food.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 07.2025
Date Uploaded: 12.2025
Photo Location: Alaska, United States of America
Camera: Canon EOS R5
Copyright: © Deborah Russell