Grizzly Bear Playing in Shallow Water

Bears play with sticks too!

In Katmai National Park and Preserve, this grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) played with this driftwood branch for 15 minutes – just being a goofy, 400 pound bear. © 2025 Chris Smith. All rights reserved.

Species

LC Least Concern · population stable · assessed 2017

Indigenous Lands

Season

Lighting

Behavior

Camera Details

  • Camera: NIKON Z 9
  • Aperture: f/6.3
  • Shutter Speed: 1/2000s
  • ISO: 2500
  • Focal Length: 800mm