Salmon and Survival

Written By Heather Kiesel

The summer salmon run is a season of abundance — and urgency. Along the riverbanks, coastal brown bears gather to fish, each catch fueling the long winter ahead. I spent days watching one sow teach her cubs to hunt, and at this young age; it is getting to mom’s catch first. The cubs growl and wrestle it away from mom then the beginning of establishing dominance occurs. It is a story of life, resilience, and the unbreakable bond between predator and prey and the family unit of growing up on the rivers edge.

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Heather Kiesel

Born and raised in Alaska, I fell in love with photography and flying early on. Hopping aboard a float plane in Juneau with cameras in hand allows nearly boundless exploration of the islands, mountains, coastal waters, and remote, colorful communities dotting the shores of the magnificent Inside Passage. In one day, I can shoot a birds eye view of massive ice fields winding between frozen nunataks, touch down in a secluded cove to catch a family of Coastal brown bears dining on the summer salmon run, and get home in time to catch a black bear ambling by my house. I love to share my passion for photography, flying, wildlife, and Southeast Alaska - my backyard!

https://heatherkieselphotography.com
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