19th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
The Last Dance

This was taken in Lake Clark Alaska in September 2021. It is the end of the salmon season and the bears are quickly scrounging around for any bits of food they can find before making their trek back into the mountain to hibernate. For this cub these will be some of the final days spent with his mother. There is a good chance that when he wakes up from hibernation he will likely be left on his own to fend for himself.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 09.2021
Date Uploaded: 11.2021
Photo Location: Lake Clark, Alaska, United States of America
Camera: Canon EOS R5
Copyright: © LEIGHTON LUM