05/06/2026
Spring Bear Fields by Spectacle Photography
I'm back from a wonderful May in the Canadian Rockies, and finally back in the room looking at photos after jetlag and tiredness not helped by two-weeks 'on holiday' of 5:30am starts, and 10:00pm finishes.
As ever, we always do well seeing wildlife in this wonderful part of the world, and more importantly sightings and interactions with, our favourite species, bears was very good. Overall, not the best we have ever had, but some great sightings, including this one.
This sighting of a new mother 'black bear' and her three little cubs, was at a fair distance (maybe we were 300 or 400 metres away). We were one side of the valley, and they were the other side separated by a river and deep gorge as they headed towards the golf course (prime location for spring bears!). This is where a 600mm Lens and a cropped photo comes in handy.
We were able to watch this lovely family for about 30 mins, without disturbing them at all. Given these cubs were pretty small, mother was pretty jumpy, and I'm not surprised as there were a number of other bears around this valley to make her nervous. This was clear as she sent the cubs up nearby trees on more than one occasion, which can be hair raising watching as they go so high up, and you worry for their safety (from a human perspective!). Don't worry though, these little feisty tiny warriors are fearless and excellent climbers with decked claws which act like crampons to the designated tree! Often they can be right at the top, maybe 20m up!
Next, I wanted to note the vast colour difference of these bears, especially from the mother. For a Black Bear, mother is super blonde. She also had been in the river - if you look closely you can see the tide mark and colour change just above leg height which runs the length of her body. The cubs range in colour, from black brown and cinnamon, and it is intriguing that the mother is so light, but the cubs are pretty dark in comparison. Dad MUST have been a full-on black bear (in colour), and there was a massive one roaming the fields and valleys close by to this family's location.
On the location, I love the spring feel of the hillside, with the beautiful arrowleaf balsamroot blooming yellow which are clear to see. The family were close by to the Waterton golf course, just out of shot, and they were heading there for a run around and play, and munch of green, green grass! They were close to the forest, still scared by wildfire of 2017, and obviously the river.
A truly magnificent 'wild' experience. Oh, and hope you like the photo too!
