429 "Mila"/"Social" Fall 2023 NPS photograph by Ranger Tammy Carmack, KNP&P Bear Monitor via LTC 10/24/2023
Subadult Female (aka "Mila"/"Social")
Year First Observed: 2023 as 3.5 Year-Old Subadult
Year of Birth: 2020
Year Last Observed: 2024
Known Offspring Of: 128 Grazer (Speculated)
Known Litters of Cubs: None as of 2023 Season
Genetics Study Samples Obtained: None
Identification:[]
429 "Mila" is believed to be the 2020 female offspring of 128 Grazer with the less pointy muzzle per Ranger Tammy Carmack, KNP&P Bear Monitor .
Mckate's 429 "Mila"/"Social" Playlist
Distinctive Behaviors:[]
429 "Mila" was identified by some cam viewers as "128's Social" or simply, "Social", when she was a dependent cub because she was observed seeking out and developing relationships with bears outside of their family group. 429 introduced herself to 806's female cub in the riffles one day, and sharing a fish with her on the lip the very next day. 429's relationship with 806's female cub grew to these two cubs often playing together as their mothers fished. 429 "Mila" (aka "Social") also forged relationships with other cubs along the river, and even subadults like 208, 719's 2019 male offspring that was emancipated in 2021. The blossom of yearling 429's & newly emancipated subadult 208's friendship was captured by mckate in this August 13, 2023 video. During the 2022 season, a "bonus" year for 429 "Mila" and her littermate 428 "Svetlana" when they remained with 128 Grazer as 2.5 year-old dependent cubs, 429 continued to play with her female subadult friend 306 who had been recently emancipated by 806 that season.
Life History:[]
429 "Mila" is believed to have been born in 2020 to 128 Grazer, and had one female littermate, 428 "Svetlana".
429 "Mila" and her littermate, 428 "Svetlana", remained with their mother, 128 Grazer for an additional summer (aka bonus year) and were emancipated at the age of 3.5 years old. Typically, brown bears that utilize the Brooks River emancipate their offspring after the family group remains together for two full summers/seasons, at the age of 2.5 years. 429 and 428 benefited from an extra year being cared for and nursed by their mother. Family groups with older cubs also benefit from their position in the hierarchy.
2020: Spring Cub w/Mother, 128 Grazer & Littermate, 428 "Svetlana"[]
Add here
2021: Yearling w/Mother, 128 Grazer & Littermate, 428 "Svetlana"[]
August 2021:[]
2021.08.13; 128 Grazer's "social" female yearling meeting recently emancipated male subadult 208 was captured in this video by mckate. mckate shared the following information in her video description: "Now she's making friends with subs! He was nervous knowing that her mom was watching.":
13 Aug 2021- 128's Girl Meets 208 (explore.org)
video by mckate 429 "Mila"/"Social" & 208
2022: 2.5 Year-Old Cub w/Mother, 128 Grazer & Littermate, 428 "Svetlana"[]
Add here
2023: 3.5 Year-Old Recently Emancipated Subadult[]
May 2023:[]
2023.05.20: 128 Grazer returned to Brooks Camp with her two 3.5 year-old female cubs. Ranger Naomi observed and photographed them sharing this information in her 05/21/2023 09:19 comment: (Links to NPS photographs only #1, #2, #3, #4 & #5)
"...You might have heard that I had a visit from 128 Grazer and her two cubs (if you can call them that they are SO big) yesterday. Outside my cabin in Valley Road housing, I saw a very light colored bear that looked like a subadult to me. Then came another bear, then another. It was Grazer and her two cubs coming from Lake Brooks, a place they frequent. They look terrific. Very exciting. The question: Will 128 emancipate her cubs in their 4th season? In previous years, I have seen both 94 and 402 walk by my cabin here with their cubs, shortly before emancipating. So the question remains. Here are some photos. Enjoy."
2023.05.31 or Prior: 128 Grazer returned to the Brooks River with her two 3.5 year-old female offspring. Time will reveal if 128 will emancipate these offspring during the 2023 season or if the family group will remain together for another season. 128 Grazer has kept these two offspring, her 2nd known litter, longer than her 1st known litter. 128 Grazer, along with her two litter mates, were emancipated by their mother, 408 CC (aka Crooked Claw), when they were 3.5 years old. Kara Stenberg captured these photographs (#1, #2 & #3) of 128 Grazer and her two 3.5 year-old cubs on May 31, 2023 or prior. Brooks Lodge shared them in their May 31, 2023 Facebook post.:
Please request Kara Stenberg's permission prior to using her photographs!
Summer 2023:[]
Ranger Tammy Carmack, KNP&P Bear Monitor provided these Summer 2023 NPS photographs of 429 "Mila"/"Social" to LTC on October 24, 2023:
June 2023:[]
2023.06.15 - 2023.06.17: Haley Brooks & Adrein Brooks spent June 15, 2023 - June 17, 2023 camping at Brooks Camp where they were able to capture 128 Grazer's two 3.5 year-old offspring in some of the photographs and videos. Haley Brooks shared them in this June 18, 2023 instagram post. Click the arrow to scroll through their photographs and videos. The first solo bear is 128 Grazer's "social" offspring, the video with two young bears is of both of 128 Grazer's 3.5 year-old offspring, and the last photograph of an individual bear is 909, a now single adult female after emancipation of her 2.5 year-old offspring.
2023.06.17 or Prior: Katmai Conservancy posted to their Facebook on June 17, 2023 at 11:00 AKDT that 128 Grazer was observed with her two 3.5 year-old cubs on June 17, 2023 or prior.:
Katmai Conservancy's June 17, 2023 11:00 AKDT Facebook post stating that 128 Grazer has been confirmed as observed with her two 3.5 year-old cubs on June 17, 2023 or prior.
2023.06.19 or Prior: 128 Grazer's recently emancipated 3.5 year-old offspring are sticking together. Explore.org's June 19, 2023 06:15 AKDT Facebook post with a short video of the two female siblings together on June 19, 2023 or prior.
July 2023:[]
2023.07.13: 128 Grazer's recently emancipated 3.5 year-old subadult 429 "Mila"/"Social" makes a brief appearance in this video captured by mckate:
13 Jul 2023- 128's Social Girl Makes Brief Appearance (explore.org)
video by mckate 429 "Mila"/"Social"
2023.07.20: 128 Grazer's recently emancipated 3.5 year-old subadult 429 "Mila"/"Social" fishes the lip in mckate's video.:
20 Jul 2023- 128's Social Girl Takes to Lip (explore.org)
video by mckate 429 "Mila"/"Social"
429 "Mila"/"Social" slips the lip of the falls after 128 Grazer reinforces emancipation in this video captured by mckate. Grazer clearly wasn't happy to see her up there, but it did not appear 128 Grazer intended to send Social over. Social just lost her footing when she swatted at her mom. At least she caught three fish before getting booted.:
20 Jul 2023- 128's Social Slips Lip After Confronted by Mom (explore.org)
video by mckate 429 "Mila"/"Social"
306 and 429 "Mila"/"Social", 128 Grazer's recently emancipated 3.5 year-old subadult, meet in this video captured by mckate:
20 Jul 2023- 306 and 128's Social Meet (explore.org)
video by mckate 429 "Mila"/"Social"
2023.07.21: 429 "Mila"/"Social" waits her turn in this video mckate created:
21 Jul 2023- 128's Social Waits Her Turn (explore.org)
video by mckate 429 "Mila"/"Social"
2023.07.24: 128 Grazer's recently emancipated 3.5 year-old subadults, 429 "Mila"/"Social" and 428 "Svetlana"/"Studious" watch 306 fish in mckate's video:
24 Jul 2023- 128's Studious and Social Watch 306 Fish (explore.org)
video by mckate
2023.07.25: Siblings, 429 "Mila" (aka "Social") (above) and 428 "Svetlana" (aka "Studious") (below) wait for the lip in this gif created by LeafyHyrax (p 19:46).:
mckate captured this video of 128 Grazer's recently emancipated siblings, 429 "Mila" (above) and 428 "Svetlana" (below), waiting for the lip on July 25, 2023:
25 Jul 2023- 128's Social and Studious Wait for the Lip (explore.org)
video by mckate
August 2023:[]
2023.08.11: 128 Grazer's recently emancipated 3.5 year-old, 429 "Mila"/"Social" offspring fishes the lip with her brother, 903 "Gully", in this video by mckate. 429 "Mila"/"Social" growled at 903 every time he looked at her, but other than that they got along fine. It's great to see family on the lip together.:
11 Aug 2023- 128's Social Fishes with Her Big Brother (explore.org)
video by mckate 429 "Mila"/"Social" & 903 "Gully"
2023.08.15: 429 "Mila"/"Social" scratches and grazes in mckate's video:
15 Aug 2023- 128's Social Scratches and Grazes (explore.org)
video by mckate 429 "Mila"/"Social"
2023.08.17: 429 "Mila"/"Social" enjoys a snack in the riffles in this video mckate captured:
17 Aug 2023- 128's Social Enjoys a Riffles Snack (explore.org)
video by mckate 429 "Mila"/"Social"
2023.08.21: 429 "Mila"/"Social" pops in at the falls in this video by mckate:
21 Aug 2023- 128's Social Pops In (explore.org)
video by mckate 429 "Mila"/"Social"
2023.08.26: 429 "Mila"/"Social" briefly fishes the falls in this video mckate captured:
26 Aug 2023- 128's Social Briefly Fishes the Falls (explore.org)
video by mckate 429 "Mila"/"Social"
2023.08.28: 429 "Mila"/"Social" takes the lip in mckate's video:
28 Aug 2023- 128's Social Takes to the Lip (explore.org)
video by mckate 429 "Mila"/"Social"
2023.08.30: 429 "Mila"/"Social" catches a fish in the office in this video captured by mckate:
30 Aug 2023- 128's Social Catches a Fish in the Office (explore.org)
video by mckate 429 "Mila"/"Social"
Fall 2023:[]
Ranger Tammy Carmack, KNP&P Bear Monitor, provided these Fall 2023 NPS photographs of 429 "Mila"/"Social" to LTC on October 24, 2023:
September 2023:[]
2023.09.01: 429 "Mila"/"Social" watches for scraps in mckate's video:
1 Sep 2023- 128's Social Watches for Scraps (explore.org)
video by mckate 429 "Mila"/"Social"
2023.09.07: 429 "Mila"/"Social" briefly poses on the spit in this video captured by mckate:
7 Sep 2023- 128's Social Briefly Poses on the Spit (explore.org)
video by mckate 429 "Mila"/"Social"
2023.09.08: 429 "Mila"/"Social" video created by Owl_&_Osprey_Lover_CA:
128 Grazer’s “Social” subadult adorably scratches an itch! September 9, 2023 (Explore.org)
video by Owl_&_Osprey_Lover_CA 429 "Mila"/"Social"
2023.09.10: 429 "Mila"/"Social" shows off her fall look in this video mckate captured:
10 Sep 2023- 128's Social Shows Off Her Fall Look (explore.org)
video by mckate 429 "Mila"/"Social"
2023.09.18: 429 "Mila"/"Social" watches for fish in the riffles in mckate's video:
18 Sep 2023- 429 Watches for Fish in the Riffles (explore.org)
video by mckate 429 "Mila"/"Social"
2023.09.21: 429 "Mila"/"Social" sorts through island scraps in this video mckate captured:
21 Sep 2023- 429 Sorts Through Island Scraps (explore.org)
video by mckate
2023.09.25: 429 "Mila"/"Social" relaxes on the spit video captured by mckate:
25 Sep 2023- 429 Relaxes on the Spit (explore.org)
video by mckate 429 "Mila"/"Social"
2023.09.29: Siblings, 429 "Mila"/"Social" and 428 "Svetlana"/"Studious", walk downriver together in this video captured by mckate:
29 Sep 2023- 428 and 429 Walk Downriver Together ( explore.org)
video by mckate
October 2023:[]
2023.10.15: Littermates 428 "Svetlana"/"Studious" and 429 "Mila"/"Social" walk downriver in this video captured by mckate:
15 Oct 2023- 428 and 429 Walk Downriver (explore.org)
video by mckate
2023.10.21: 429 "Mila"/"Social" finds a scrap on the bank of the riffles in mckate's video. 429 was following 131.:
21 Oct 2023- 429 Finds a Scrap on the Riffles Bank (explore.org)
video by mckate
2023.10.27: 428 "Svetlana" or 429 "Mila" made a late season appearance in this video by mckate:
27 Oct 2023- 428 or 429 Walks the Cut Bank (explore.org)
428 "Svetlana" or 429 "Mila"???
video by mckate
2024: 4.5 Year-Old Adult Female[]
July 2024:[]
2024.07.10: 429 "Mila"/"Social" play fighting with 903 Gully photographs (#1, #2, #3, #4 & #5) captured by Amy Incillo (aka NWBearLove92) (p 07/14/2024 09:36).:
Please request Amy Incillo's (aka NWBearLove92's) permission PRIOR to using her photographs!
2024.07.18: 428 "Svetlana"/"Studious" & 429 "Mila"/"Social" fish together in these gifs (#1 & #2) created by Blair-55 (p 16:29). The second gif file is larger (10.8 MB) than the wiki server is configured to allow, please click here to view gif #2.:
2024.07.23: 307, 335 & 429 "Mile"/"Social" hang out together in twelve22's video.:
307, 335, and 429 Hang Out Together - July 23, 2024 (explore.org)
video by twelve22
335 & 429 "Mila"/"Social" play near the elevated bridge in this video twelve22 captured:
335 and 429 Play Near the Bridge - July 23, 2024 (explore.org)
video by twelve22
2024.07.31: 128 Grazer fishes the lip with her 2020 offspring 428 "Svetlana"/"Studious" & 429 "Mila"/"Social" in this video captured by twelve22:
128 Grazer on the Lip with 428 and 429 - July 31, 2024 (explore.org)
video by twelve22
128 Grazer lets 429 "Mila"/"Social" to have part of her fish in this video captured by twelve22:
128 Grazer Lets 429 Have Part of Her Fish - July 31, 2024 (explore.org)-2
video by twelve22
August 2024:[]
2024.08.04: 429 "Mila"/"Social" blocks 335 from going all the way out on the lip in twelve22's video. If some remember correctly, the only time 335 has been observed on the lip previously was as a yearling when 435 Holly took her to the lip of the falls on the far side of the river.:
429 Blocks 335 From Going All the Way Out on the Lip - August 4, 2024 (explore.org)
video by twelve22
How 429 Got Her Unofficial Nicknames:[]
429 does not have an official nickname. KNP&P has moved away from using official nicknames.
Per Ranger Tammy Carmack on September 16, 2023, some of the park staff used the unofficial nickname "Mila" to help them identify this newly emancipated subadult while waiting for her official bear monitoring number to be assigned. Some cam viewers used the unofficial nickname "Social" to describe this 128 Grazer offspring, even when she was a cub.
PLEASE NOTE: THIS INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED BY RANGER TAMMY CARMACK AND SHARED WITH HER PERMISSION
Known Courting & Mating:[]
None as of 2023 season.
Known Litters of Cubs:[]
None as of 2023 season.
Known Relatives:[]
There is no known DNA evidence to confirm the following speculated relatives of 429 "Mila". 128 Grazer raised her 2020 litter of 2 spring cubs, 429 "Mila" & 428 "Svetlana", along the Brooks River where they were frequently observed by KNP&P bear monitoring staff. 128 Grazer kept these two offspring into their 3rd summer/season, emancipating them in 2023 at the age of 3.5 year-old independent subadults. 128 Grazer and her two 3.5 year-old cubs returned to the Brooks River in 2023 and were observed together as a family group prior to family separation. The ability to observe and document the family group from early season 2020 to early season 2023 provides a level of certainty that 429 "Mila" is one of 128 Grazer's 2020 offspring. :
Mother: 128 Grazer[]
Father: Unknown[]
Littermate: 428 "Svetlana"[]
Siblings:[]
2016: 902 "Fifi"/"Bonsai" & 903 "Gully"[]
Grandmother: 408 CC (aka Crooked Claw)[]
Genetics Study Samples Obtained:[]
None as of 2023 season.