lucky
I’ve always wanted to see a bear in the wild. So, with a little bit of luck, I decided to venture over to Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina. I’d been there once before but didn’t see much aside from a few bears roaming in the distance.
I first visited early in the day to get a sense of the refuge’s layout. From the photos I’d seen online, the place seemed packed with all sorts of wildlife — alligators, owls, and especially bears! However, I left a bit disappointed after spotting only a heron. Still, I knew prime wildlife viewing would come in the early evening hours.
Nothing, however, prepared me for what I’d see when I returned that evening: a bear grazing in a field near the road. Getting to watch and photograph it was truly incredible. Without a doubt, it was my favorite wildlife encounter to date!
Why “Lucky”? That’s the name I gave this bear, as it appeared to have survived a fight with another creature. If you look closely near its left eye, you can see a scar running from the eye down onto its snout.
(Note that this pic was taken from the safety of my vehicle. Bears shouldn't be approached by any means and only observed from a safe distance).
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge
East Lake, North Carolina
ps: more bear pics to come!
lucky
I’ve always wanted to see a bear in the wild. So, with a little bit of luck, I decided to venture over to Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina. I’d been there once before but didn’t see much aside from a few bears roaming in the distance.
I first visited early in the day to get a sense of the refuge’s layout. From the photos I’d seen online, the place seemed packed with all sorts of wildlife — alligators, owls, and especially bears! However, I left a bit disappointed after spotting only a heron. Still, I knew prime wildlife viewing would come in the early evening hours.
Nothing, however, prepared me for what I’d see when I returned that evening: a bear grazing in a field near the road. Getting to watch and photograph it was truly incredible. Without a doubt, it was my favorite wildlife encounter to date!
Why “Lucky”? That’s the name I gave this bear, as it appeared to have survived a fight with another creature. If you look closely near its left eye, you can see a scar running from the eye down onto its snout.
(Note that this pic was taken from the safety of my vehicle. Bears shouldn't be approached by any means and only observed from a safe distance).
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge
East Lake, North Carolina
ps: more bear pics to come!