Millions of viewers are tuning into a live stream from Alaska's Katmai National Park to witness the dramatic spectacle of brown bears catching salmon at Brooks Falls. The Brooks Falls bearcam has seen a significant increase in viewership, attracting 7.3 million views between June 22 and August 4, a 70% rise from the same period last year and more than double the views from 2024.
The cameras, operated by wildlife network Explore.org, provide a window into the natural behavior of brown bears as they gather at the waterfall to intercept sockeye salmon swimming upstream. Observers can spot over a dozen bears at a time in the rocky waters, actively hunting and eating the fish.
Candice Rusch, Explore.org’s director of new media, suggested the increased viewership is linked to the bears returning in substantial numbers this year. "Last year was a really high salmon run, which meant there was salmon all over the river and the bears didn’t need to congregate at the falls the way they’re doing right now," Rusch explained. "This year we’ve just had very good views of large congregations of bears." She added, "It’s like the whole world discovered they could put bearcam on their TV at the same time. Maybe people just have it on while they’re cooking dinner."
First installed in 2012, the cameras were intended to bring remote wildlife into people's homes, fostering a greater connection and likelihood of protecting animals and landscapes. Dr. Jeffrey Skibins, an associate professor at East Carolina University, noted that nature-based webcams have proven beneficial for both wildlife and people, enhancing conservation attitudes, behaviors, and awareness. He clarified, "This is not to suggest they are replacements for getting out in nature, but rather serve as viable additions."
The bearcam has cultivated a dedicated following, with viewers able to identify individual bears by their distinct features and meticulously record their feeding habits. One fan reported observing a bear named Otis consume 42 salmon over several hours, a feat potentially equating to over 100,000 calories, according to Rusch.
The bears' intensive feeding is building anticipation for Katmai's annual Fat Bear Week, scheduled for the autumn. This event features a public vote in a knockout-style competition to determine the park's fattest bear, celebrating the animals as they gain essential weight for their upcoming hibernation.
"The bears are great," Rusch stated. "This is an amazing place and it deserves all the love it’s getting."
