Grizzly Approach

Standing face-to-face with this incredible female grizzly bear, the Wildlifer feels a deep, primal fear, despite the years of experience and trust he’s built with her. The years spent photographing her and her four sets of cubs over 20 years have given him insight into her behavior, but nothing can fully prepare a person for the raw power and presence of such a majestic creature in close proximity.

There’s no mistaking the deep, ancient instinct that runs through her—this is a mother, fiercely protective and capable of immense strength. Her breath is heavy, almost rhythmic, as she stands tall, the wind stirring her fur, and the ground beneath her paws shifting as she sizes him up.

Despite the connection he feels with her from years of observing her life, the Wildlifer knows how unpredictable and dangerous she can be, especially with cubs in tow.

There is no room for doubt here—he’s a mere visitor in her world. The fear isn’t just physical; it’s an emotional understanding that this is a creature of nature, unrestrained and fully capable of protecting herself and her cubs in the blink of an eye.

In this moment, the Wildlifer’s years of experience, his trust in his instincts, and his knowledge of her habits don’t erase the fear, but they do give him the clarity to remain calm and aware. The fear is not of her as a creature, but of the uncontrollable unpredictability of nature itself. It’s a fear born of knowing the immense responsibility of standing in the presence of a wild animal who can shift from peaceful to protective in an instant.

Eric Seemann is “ The Wildlifer”