The "Bear" Facts
Homer Flyout Fishing And Wildlife Adventures, LLC

Where we Go

The Minimum Age to participate in our bear trips is 12 years old.  

We fly to Katmai National Park and other remote locations on the west side of Cook Inlet to view bears in their natural habitat.  The locations vary
depending on the time of year but, the flightseeing en route is always incredible.  With 50 active Volcanoes and thousands of glaciers, this part of
Alaska is truly breathtaking.

In June the Bears are mating and eating grasses on the tidal sedge flats.  The west side of Cook Inlet in Lake Clark National Park will be our
destination.  You will see the larger, older males fighting other males for their dominance and mating rights with the females, who at times, are not
receptive and force the male to give chase.  Sound Familiar?

In July the Sockeye Salmon start their migration from the ocean up the rivers and we find the Bears feeding in coastal rivers and streams.  The roar
of a female protecting her cubs against other Bears is something to be seen and heard.

In August the salmon have made it further up river to shallow  streams where they chase bright red spawning Sockeye Salmon. We find them near a
small remote lake a one hour flight hour into Katmai National Park. We will hike in high tundra and find the bears not only below us in the stream but, in
any direction you might gaze in this expansive treeless territory.

A word about Brooks Falls
This location is best between July 10 and July 25.  We have found the crowds and the footbridge closures due to bear activity frustrating.  Your
viewing time on the platform is often limited to only one hour, and the footbridge can be closed for several hours due to the bears presence.  This
causes departure times and connecting flights to be missed.  Weather often prevents us from being able to go to this destination.  If this is your
desired destination, we recommend you fly commercially to King Salmon and arrange a flight with 4W Air to get to the falls.  

What to Bring

You must have a lunch and something to drink!  
PLEASE DRESS APPROPRIATELY  
Layers of a t-shirt, turtleneck, sweatshirt, coat, and light rain gear are recommended.  
Hiking boots
Gloves and hat
Toilet tissue and a plastic bag to bring it home in
Insect repellent
A small backpack
Your camera with lots of film and fresh batteries.
Binoculars are handy
NO pepper spray
NO firearms


Bear Behavior
Bears don't like surprises!  If you are hiking through bear country, make your presence known- especially where terrain or vegetation makes it hard to
see. Make noise, sing, and talk loudly.  If possible travel with a group.  Groups are noisier and are easier for bears to detect.  Avoid thick brush, if you
can't, try to walk with the wind at your back so your scent will warn bears of your presence.  Contrary to popular belief, bears can see almost as well as
people, but trust their noses much more than their eyes or ears.  Always let bears know you are there.

Don't crowd Bears! Give bears plenty of room.  Some bears are more tolerant than others, but every bear has a "personal space" - the distance within
which a bear feels threatened.  If you stray within that zone, a bear may react aggressively.  When photographing bears, use long lenses; getting close
for a great shot could put you inside the danger zone

Bears are always looking for something to eat!  Bears have only about 6 months to build up fat reserves for winter hibernation.  Don't let them learn
human food or garbage is an easy meal.  It is both foolish and illegal to feed bears, either on purpose or by leaving food or garbage that attracts them.

Identify yourself - Let the bear know you are human.  Talk to the bear in a normal voice.  Help the bear recognize you.  If a bear cannot tell what you
are, it may come closer or stand on its hind legs to get a better look or smell.  A standing bear is usually curious not threatening.  You may try to back
away slowly diagonally, but if the bear follows stop and hold your ground.

Don't run - You can't outrun a bear.  Running will cause the bear to see you as prey, and trigger a chase response.  They have been clocked at speeds up
to 35mph.  Bears often make bluff charges, sometimes to within 10 feet of their adversary, without making contact.  Continue talking to the bear to let
it know you are human.  If the bear gets to close, raise your voice and be more aggressive.  Never imitate bear sounds or make a high-pitched squeal.