299 September 2021 NPS photo
Adult Male (aka "Damaged Nose Bear")
Year First Identified: 2021 as an adult male, 2014 on cams
Last Year Observed: 2023 (After not being observed in 2022)
Known Offspring of: Not known at this time
Genetics Study Samples Obtained: Unknown
Identification:[]
299 is an adult male. He has a prominent shoulder hump. He has a shorter muzzle and his nose has the appearance of being smashed in. 299 also has a left shoulder scar.
mckate's 299 YouTube Playlist
Distinctive Behaviors:[]
299 is a bear that we still don’t know much about. He tends to be wary of other bears. His habits suggest that he is not habituated to people or other bears, unlike many bears who have frequented Brooks River for the majority of their lives.
299 can be seen at the falls in low light conditions at dusk or dawn. He prefers to fish from the bank of the riffles. He will look for scraps at the Brooks Falls island. 299 often is seen passing by the brooks falls low cam and then heading upriver.
Life History:[]
2014:[]
September 2014:[]
2014.09.30: BeckyT_GA captured three 9/30/2014 snapshots of a bear believed to be 299, #1, #2 and #3.
2016:[]
September 2016:[]
2016.09.26: A bear appearing to be 299 was seen in a 9/26/2016 video.
Note: Video unavailable as of 2021. Thumbnail left for context.
Video Unavailable - For Context Only
Original 9/26/2016 video by Brenda D
2017:[]
September 2017:[]
2017.09.13: Cam viewer and Brooks Camp visitor Lee Pastewka (aka RiverPA) captured two 9/13/2017 photos of 299, #1 and #2.
Please request Lee's (aka RiverPA ) permission prior to using her photographs !
_.01.jpg "299 September 13, 2017 photo by Lee Pastewka (aka RiverPA) .01.jpg (545 KB)")
_.02.jpg "299 September 13, 2017 photo by Lee Pastewka (aka RiverPA) .02.jpg (584 KB)")
2017.09.29: On 9/29/2017, Mike Fitz posted an article titled Injured Nose Bears on his Wandering at Large blog. 299 is discussed.
2018:[]
September 2018:[]
2018.09.30: 299 above the falls, 9/30/2018 video by Birgitt.
Damaged Nosed Bear Above the Falls, 2018-9-30. Video by Birgitt.
Video by Birgitt
Melissa Freels also captured 9/30/2018 video of 299 walking above the falls.
Injured Nose Bear (a.k.a. Lee's Bear), October 1, 2018. Video by Melissa Freels.
Video by Melissa Freels
October 2018:[]
2018.10.02: Lani H filmed 299 twice on 10/2/2018 in the riffles area of the Brooks River. Video #1.
Unknown bear in riffles part 1, 10 2 2018. Video by Lani H.
Video by Lani H
Video #2 by Lani H of 299 on 10/2/2018 in the riffles area of the Brooks River.
Unknown bear in the riffles 10 2 2018. Video by Lani H.
Video by Lani H
2018.10.07: 299 was seen again on 10/7/2018. He was observed on the platform side of Brooks Falls, video by Lani H.
Unknown bear with shoulder scar at falls 10 7 2018. Video by Lani H.
Video by Lani H
2018.10.08: Erum Chad's 10/8/2018 video of 299 walking below the platform and then heading downstream. It was unusual to see this bear in the daylight given his habit of visiting the falls area at dusk and dawn.
Nose bear at Brooks Falls Katmai, 2018 10 08. Video by Erum Chad.
Video by Erum Chad
Birgitt also captured 10/8/2018 video of 299.
Damaged Nosed Bear in the Light 2018-10-08. Video by Birgitt.
Video by Birgitt
2018.10.21: This is possibly 299 on 10/21/2018, video by Lani H. The left shoulder scar is visible but it is difficult to see the nose/muzzle area in the low light.
Scarred nose bear along the far bank, 10 21 2018. Video by Lani H.
Video by Lani H
2020:[]
September 2020:[]
2020.09.26: 299 in the riffles pouncing for fish, 9/26/2020 video by Lani H.
??? in the riffles 9-26-2020
Video by Lani H
A better view of 299, 9/26/2020 video by Lani H.
Better view of ??? in the riffles 9-26-2020
Video by Lani H
2020.09.27: 299 near the falls low cam, 9/27/2020 video by Lani H.
??? near the falls low cam 9-27-2020
Video by Lani H
299 again in the riffles, 9/27/2020 video by Lani H.
??? in the riffles 9-27-2020
Video by Lani H
299 ventures out into the river from the riffles, 9/27/2020 video by Lani H.
??? in the riffles, walks across the river 9-27-2020
Video by Lani H
This 9/27/2020 video by Lani H is believed to be 299.
??? walks by falls platform 9-27-2020
Video by Lani H
2020.09.29: 299 walks by the platform and then climbs up to the falls, 9/29/2020 video by Lani H.
Unknown boar 9-29-2020
Video by Lani H
Lani H's 9/29/2020 video of 299 by the falls low cam.
Unknown Boar by falls low cam 9-29-2020
Video by Lani H
299 at his favorite spot in the riffles, 9/29/2020 video by Lani H.
Unknown Boar in riffles 9-29-2020
Video by Lani H
2020.09.30: 299 by the platform and then climbs the falls, 9/30/2020 video by Lani H.
Unknown Boar 9-30-2020
Video by Lani H
299 walks by the falls cam and then moves to his favorite spot on the riffles bank, 9/30/2020 video by Lani H.
Unknown Boar with wide muzzle 9-30-2020
Video by Lani H
299 jumps into the riffles and catches a fish, 9/30/2020 gif by cruiser.
299 September 30, 2020 gif by Cruiser
299 can be seen fishing and eating fish in the riffles, 9/30/2020 video by Lani H.
Unknown wide muzzle boar eating in the riffles 9-30-2020
Video by Lani H
October 2020:[]
2020.10.01: A quick walk by the falls platform by 299, 10/1/2020 video by Lani H.
Unknown wide muzzled boar 10-1-2020
Video by Lani H
2020.10.02: A very close up view of 299 walking by the falls low cam, 10/2/2020 video by Lani H.
Wide muzzled boar walks by falls low cam 10-2-2020
Video by Lani H
Lani H's 10/2/2020 video of 299 on the riffles bank and moving out into the river.
Wide muzzled boar on the river bank 10-2-2020
Video by Lani H
2020.10.06: 299 walks by falls low cam and is seen in riffles, 10/6/2020 video by Lani H.
Unknown wide muzzled boar walks by falls low and in riffles 10-6-2020
Video by Lani H
2020.10.12: Lani H's 10/12/2020 video of 299 looking for scraps on the center island and then heading downstream.
Unknown wide muzzled boar? 10-12-2020
Video by Lani H
2020.10.17: This 10/17/2020 video by Lani H is probably 299 fishing in very low light at the falls.
Unknown wide muzzled boar 10-17-2020-2
Video by Lani H
2020.10.18: This 10/18/2020 video by Lani H may be 299. His left shoulder scar is not visible however.
Unknown wide muzzled boar 10-18-2020
Video by Lani H
2021: Adult Male, 1st Year Identified, Fall Only Bear Officially in 2021[]
299 was initially observed and classified in the fall of 2021. 299 is a bear that we still don’t know much about. He tends to be wary of other bears. His habits suggest that he is not habituated to people or other bears, unlike many bears who have frequented Brooks River for the majority of their lives. He has occasionally been seen in fall dating back to 2018, but has never made enough bear monitoring scans to be given a number until 2021.
299's page in the 2022 Bears of Brooks River book page 71
299 has been observed on the cams in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2021. These observations on the cams have always been in the fall and usually at dusk or dawn in low light conditions. He has occasionally appeared in daylight.
Ranger Lian Law shared this newly identified bear's monitoring number with cam viewers in chat on April 14, 2022 in her comment.
299 was included in the 2022 Bears of Brooks River book page 71.
299's page in the 2022 Bears of Brooks River book page 71
September 2021:[]
299 appears on the list of Bears Monitored in Fall 2021. 2021.09.12: 299 below the falls platform. 9/12/2021 screenshot by JG.
299 arrives, 9/12/2021 video by mckate. "Poor fellow is looking a little beat up. At least he showed up in September instead of October when there's a chance he'll finally get a number."
12 Sep 2021- 299 Arrives (explore.org)-2
Video by mckate
Birgitt's 9/12/2021 video of 299.
DNB Shows Up on LR 2021-09-12 21-40-29-124
Video by Birgitt
Fall regular 299 arrives, 9/12/2021 gif by LunaCre.
299 September 12, 2021 gif by LunaCre
2021.09.16: 299 seen on the BFL cam, 9/16/2021 screenshot by mazey.
A better look at 299, 9/16/2021 video by mckate. "I'd never really noticed the extent of the scar behind his hump. This poor fellow must have been in a bad fight or accident at some point."
16 Sep 2021- A Better Look at 299 (explore.org)-2
Video by mckate
2021.09.17: A long look at 299 on the riffles bank, 9/17/2021 video by JG.
299 - Explore.org September 17, 2021-2
Video by JG
Suzybell's 9/17/2021 snapshot of 299 sitting on the riffles bank.
2021.09.18: 299 passes by the BFL cam, 9/18/2021 video by Cheryl B.
9-18-2021 Damaged Nose Bear Explore.com-2
Video by Cheryl B
2021.09.19: A silhouette screenshot of 299 by mazey, 9/19/2021.
2021.09.22: 299 the elusive bear, 9/22/2021 video by Cheryl B.
9-22-2021 (Part 1) The Elusive Bear with the distinctive muzzle-head- injured nose Explore.org-2
Video by Cheryl B
299 finds a fish by the riffles bank, 9/22/2021 gif by LunaCre.
299 September 22, 2021 gif by LunaCre
2021.09.23: 299 below the falls platform, 9/23/2021 screenshot by mazey.
2021.09.24: LunaCre's 9/24/2021 gif of 299 in the riffles.
299 September 24, 2021 gif by LunaCre
2021.09.25: 299's early morning visit to the falls, 9/25/2021 video by Hey Princess.
Damaged nose bear early morning visit at the falls Explore.org 09.25.21-2
Video by Hey Princess
2021.09.27: LunaCre's 9/27/2021 gif of 299 standing on the riffles bank searching for fish.
299 September 27, 2021 gif by LunaCre
October 2021:[]
2021.10.04: 32 Chunk meets up with 299 in the early morning, 10/4/2021 video by Hey Princess.
32 Chunk and damaged nose bear early morning meet up Explore.org 10.04.21-3
Video by Hey Princess
2021.10.05: 299 walks past the falls platform, 10/5/2021 gif by LunaCre.
299 October 5, 2021 gif by LunaCre
2021.10.07: 299 catches a fish on his way out of the falls, 10/7/2021 video by Hey Princess.
Damaged nose bear catches a fish on his way out of the falls Explore.org 10.07.21-2
Video by Hey Princess
2021.10.19: 299 walks past the falls and then upriver (0:00-0:43). 903 is seen from 0:43-4:00, 10/19/2021 video by Hey Princess.
Damaged nose bear passes through, 903 comes through Explore.org 10.19.21-3
Video by Hey Princess
2022: Adult Male[]
299 was not observed in 2022. He is usually seen during the months of September and October. All cams were down from 9/10-9/17/2022 so 299 may have returned in 2022. He was not observed by the bear monitor.
2023: Adult Male[]
October 2023:[]
2023.10.12: 299 returns to Brooks River after not being observed during the 2022 season. mckate captured this video of 299's 2023 season arrival. 299 is usually seen at dusk on the riffles bank near where 708 has been fishing.:
12 Oct 2023- 299 Arrives (explore.org)
video by mckate
299 moves upriver in this video captured by mckate:
12 Oct 2023- 299 Moves Upriver (explore.org)
video by mckate
2023.10.13: 299 fishes the riffles in this video by mckate:
13 Oct 2023- 299 Fishes the Riffles (explore.org)
video by mckate
2023.10.14: 299 has a snack on the island in mckate's video:
14 Oct 2023- 299 Has a Snack on the Island (explore.org)
video by mckate
2023.10.16: mckate captured this video of 299 eating every morsel:
16 Oct 2023- 299 Eats Every Morsel (explore.org)
video by mckate
2023.10.17: 299 fishes his favorite spot in this video mckate captured:
17 Oct 2023- 299 Fishes His Favorite Spot (explore.org)
video by mckate
2023.10.18: 299 takes 164 "Bucky Dent's" scraps in this video captured by mckate. 164 "Bucky Dent" looked like he was considering standing up to 299, but then thought better of it. 299 usually seems like a pretty mellow, but maybe we just got a glimpse of how he came by his battle scars.
18 Oct 2023- 299 Takes 164's Scraps (explore.org)
video by mckate
2023.10.22: 299's muzzle damage close-up (A BIT GRAPHIC) video by mckate:
22 Oct 2023- 299's Muzzle Damage *A Bit Graphic* (explore.org)
video by mckate
2023.10.24: 151 Walker annoys 299 "Damaged Nose Bear" in this video by mckate:
24 Oct 2023- 151 Annoys 299 (explore.org)
video by mckate
2024: Adult Male[]
For Future Use
Why 299 Does Not Have An Official Nickname:[]
299 does not have an official nickname. KNP&P has moved away from officially nicknaming the bears that use the Brooks River.
Prior to 299 being assigned his official bear monitoring number in 2021, cam viewers dubbed this bear "Damaged Nose Bear" to describe the bear they were referring to due to his damaged nose. This nickname is not an official nickname. Cam viewers had been observing 299 since as early as the 2014 season.
Known Courting & Mating:[]
Unknown
Known Relatives:[]
None known
Genetics Study Samples Obtained[]
Unknown