500 Indy July 2016 NPS photo
Female Subadult (as of 2016 season)
Year First Identified: 2014 as 2.5 year-old subadult, 2012 year of birth
Offspring Of: 409 Beadnose
Known Litters of Cubs: None as of 2018 season
Genetics Study Samples Obtained: There were no known darting attempts, successful or unsuccessful, by Ranger Michael Saxton in 2016 or 2017.
Identification:[]
2015 Bears of Brooks River book: 500 is a small subadult with very blond fur in July. By September her fur darkens to a dark and mottled blond. Like many subadults, she has large ears.
2016 - 2018 Bears of Brooks River books: 500 Indy is a small female subadult with very blong fur in July. By September, her fur darkens to a dark and mottled blond. When shedding, she has a noticble circular shed patch on her forehead. She also has large upright ears like many subadults. 500 was one of the smallest independent bears at Brooks River during the 2014 and 2015 summers, and as such faced challenges posed by other bears.
Distinctive Behaviors:[]
2015 Bears of Brooks River book: When she first arrived in July 2014, 500 was often seen with another blond bear of similar size and color. Sibling bears sometimes associate with one another for days, weeks, or months after their mother pushes them away. In rarer instances, siblings may even den together the following fall after become independent. This may explain why #500 was seen with the other bear. Her suspected sibling, however, was not seen after early July. This bear may be the offspring of #409. Regardless, she was the smallest independent bear at Brooks River during much of 2014 and as such faced challenges posed by other bears. Still, this is a stage of life that all bears must survive before they reach adulthood. #500 found an abundant supply of food by scavenging dead fish even though she was often displaced by older, larger bears. As part of the growing pains of subadulthood, she would often challenge and/or approach larger bears. Many of these bears ignored her, but some would vigorously chase her away - even cubs from other litters . In these situations, she was likely just testing her limits and was constantly reminded of her place in the hierarchy: the bottom.
2016 -2018 Bears of Brooks River books: In 2015, 500 would visit Brooks Falls, but could not compete for fishing spots. 500 found an abundant supply of food by scavenging dead fish even though she was often displaced by older, larger bears. As part of the growing pains of subadulthood, 500 would often challenge and/pr approach larger bears. many of these bears ignored her, but some would vigorously chase her away - even cubs from other litters . In these situations, she was likely just testing her limits and was constantly reminded of her place in the hierarchy: the bottom.
Life History:[]
500 Indy is believed to be the largest of the three 2012 offspring of 409 Beadnose's 2012 litter. 500's siblings were one male (the middle-sized sibling) and one female (the smallest / runt).
2012: Spring Cub with 409 Beadnose and her 2 Littermates (717 possibly), Speculated[]
2012 is believed to be 500 Indy's year of birth. 500 is believed to be the largest of 409 Beadnose's three 2012 spring cubs. 500 Indy's two littermates, 1 male (middle-sized cub) and 1 female (smallest, runt) are believed to have spent the 2012 season together with their mother, 409 Beadnose. There is speculation that 717 may possibly be the smallest (runt) of 500 Indy's littermates.
July 2012:[]
On the afternoon of July 2, 2012, 409 Beadnose returned to Brooks Camp with 3 spring cubs, her 3rd known litter. 500 Indy is believed to be the largest of those offspring. 2012.07.??: The family group can be seen in this July 2014 Explore video :
409 Beadnose and Cub Spotting July 2012 video by Explore
2012.07.??: 409 Beadnose and her 3 spring cubs in this July 2012 video by Wild Nature Videos:
Katmai National Park Bears Sow And Cub Spotting July 2012 video by Wild Nature Videos-0
2012.07.?? (July 13, 2012 or prior): 409 Beadnose with 3 spring cubs video by 5831a:
Momma Grizzly bear with 3 tiny cubs July 2012 video by 5831a
2012.07.15:
2012.07.16:
2013: Yearling with 409 Beadnose and her 2 Littermates (717 possibly), Speculated[]
500 Indy was a yearling cub that remained with 409 Beadnose and her two littermates.
2013 Season:[]
409's 2013 yearlings can be seen in these photographs by Stu & Jor: Photo #1 & Photo #2.
409 Beadnose and her 3 yearlings (500 Indy and 717 are believed to be two of them) can be seen in the beginning of this video by Kara Stenberg. The other bears are 402 with 3 spring cubs (503 Cubadult is one of them), 32 Chunk, and 32 Chunk and 89 Backpack playfighting.:
Brooks Bears In Camp 2013 by Kara Stenberg-1
Gregg Burch captured this video during the 2013 season (published September 22, 2013). 409 Beadnose and her 3 yearlings (500, the largest & the runt, possibly 717) can be seen often during this wonderful footage.:
Brooks River-Katmai National Park 2013 Season by Gregg Burch-2
June 2013:[]
2013.06.29: 409 Beadnose and 3 yearlings video by Martina:
June 29, 2013 409 Beadnose & 3 yearlings (500 is largest one) video by Martina
July 2013:[]
Meet 409 Beadnose and (yearling) cubs video by Explore:
Meet Beadnose and cubs 2013 video by Explore
Park visitor, Charlene Dillinger, captured this video of 409 Beadnose and her 3 yearlings (500 Indy is the largest one of them) in July 2013:
JULY 2013 409 Beadnose & 3 yearlings video by Charlene Dillinger
Park visitor, Eva Thiemann, captured this video of 409 Beadnose and her 3 yearlings (500 Indy is the largest of the 3). The 3 yearlings are fighting over a fish:
Bear cubs fighting for salmon (409 Beadnose & yearlings) July 2013 video by Eva Thiemann
2013.07.19 17:30: 409 Beadnose and her 3 yearlings video by MsDebbiB:
Momma Beadnose with her 3 cubs at 530pm July 19, 2013 video by MsDebbiB
August 2013:[]
2013.08.13: Park visitor Dave Clark photographed 409's beautiful yearlings on 8/28/2013. Click the right arrow to view 8 photographs.
September 2013:[]
2013.09.29: Beadnose 409 with 3 yearlings video by Linda Jett:
Beadnose-cubs 9-29-2013 09-10-54 AM video by Linda Jett
2013.09.30:
409 Beadnose and 3 yearlings video by Linda Jett:
Brooks Camp Beadnose's 3 cubs 9.30.2013 4 09 15 PM video by Linda Jett-0
409 Beadnose and 3 yearlings Part 2 video by Linda Jett:
Brooks Camp Beadnose and cubs Lower River Part 2 9.30.2013 4 49 42 PM video by Linda Jett-0
409 Beadnose and 3 yearlings Part 3 video by Linda Jett:
Brooks Camp Beadnose and Cubs Part 3 9.30.2013 5 15 40 PM video by Linda Jett-0
409 Beadnose and 3 yearlings Part 4 video by Linda Jett:
Brooks Camp Beadnose and Cubs Part 4 9.30.2013 5 24 54 PM video by Linda Jett-0
409 Beadnose and 3 yearlings Part 5 video by Linda Jett:
Brooks Camp Beadnose and Cubs Part 5 9.30.2013 5 41 49 PM video by Linda Jett-0
409 Beadnose and 3 yearlings Part 6 video by Linda Jett:
Brooks Camp Beadnose and cubs Part 6 9.30.2013 5 52 21 PM video by Linda Jett
409 Beadnose and 3 yearlings Part 7 video by Linda Jett:
Brooks Camp Beadnose and Cubs Part 7 9.30.2013 6 03 19 PM video by Linda Jett-0
2014: 2.5 Year-Old Subadult Female, 1st Year Classified[]
500 Indy was first classified as an independent 2.5 year-old subadult.
2014 Season:[]
2014.??.??: Park visitor, Dr. Arif Herekar, captured this video of 500 Indy in 2014:
Brooks camp Alaska by Dr Arif Herekar 2014
Park visitor, Dr. Arif Herekar , also captured this video of 500 Indy in 2014.:
Bear viewing at Brooks Alaska Dr Arif herekar 2014
and this video of 500 Indy:
Brooks camp Alaska by Professor arif Herekar 2014
and this video of 500 Indy:
The grizzly in Brooks camp Alaska a great sight by Arif Herekar 2014
and this video of 500 Indy:
Bear cub Brooks camp Alaska by Dr Arif Herekar 2014
2014.??.??: Park visitors Jim & Tim Sawyer captured this video during their trip to Brooks Camp. 500 Indy can be seen at 00:31 into the video.:
Bear Watching - Brooks Camp, Alaska 2014 Season by Jim & Tim Sawyer
2014.??.??: Joan Wallner's blog with photos of 500 Indy and her believed sibling. (The 4th to 10th photos that appear in the blog).
July 2014:[]
When this bear first arrived as an indepent subadult in July 2014, 500 was often seen with another blond bear of similar size and color, believed to be her male sibling (the medium-sized 2012 offspring of 409 Beadnose). Sibling bears sometimes associate with one another for days, weeks, or months after their mother emancipates them. In rarer instances, siblings may even den together the following fall after they become independent of the mother. This may explain why 500 was seen with th other bear. 500's suspected sibling, however, was not seen after early July during official bear monitoring sessions. This bear may be the offspring of #409. Regardless, she was the smallest independent bear at Brooks River during much of 2014 and as such faced challenges posed by other bears. Still, this is a stage of life that all bears must survive before they reach adulthood. #500 found an abundant supply of food by scavenging dead fish even though she was often displaced by older, larger bears. As part of the growing pains of subadulthood, she would often challenge and/or approach larger bears. Many of these bears ignored her, but some would vigorously chase her away - even cubs from other litters . In these situations, she was likely just testing her limits and was constantly reminded of her place in the hierarchy: the bottom.
2014.07.04: Ranger Jeanne's 8 photos of 500 Indy and the other blond subadult believed to be 500's littermate can be found in this album on her flickr.
2014.07.04 22:32:
2014.07.05: Ranger Jeanne's photo of 500 Indy and the subadult believed to be 500's littermate.
2014.07.16: 500 Indy video by JB Grace:
500 Indy July 16, 2014 video by JB Grace
2014.07.16 13:04: 500 Indy video by JB Grace (Note: This is not 402's abandoned yearling, now known as 503 Cubadult, it is 500 Indy in the video):
500 Indy July 16, 2014 13 04 video by JB Grace
2014.07.19: Ranger Jeanne's photos of 500 Indy on flickr: Photo #1 , Photo #2, & Photo #3 .
2014.07.21 22:30: 500 Indy video by JB Grace:
Playtime at the beach 2.5yo subadult bear cub 500 07.21.2014 22 30 video by JB Grace
2014.07.22
20:55: 500 Indy finds a fish video by JB Grace:
Subadult cub finds a fish! 07.22.2014 20 55 by JB Grace
2014.07.27: Ranger Jeanne's photos of 500 Indy on flickr: Photo #1 & Photo #2
2014.07.28:
500 Indy (?) video by Janie Nook:
Lower Brooks River Bear 500 Subadult swimming July 28, 2014 video by Janie Nook
500 Indy video by Janie Nook:
Lower Brooks River Bear 500 subadult fish wander July 28, 2014 video by Janie Nook
August 2014:[]
2014.08.24: 500 Indy video by Janie Nook:
Bear 500 Lower Brooks River August 24, 2014 video by Janie Nook-0
2014.08.30: Ranger Jeanne's photos of 500 Indy on flickr: Photo #1 & Photo #2 .
2014.08.31: Ranger Jeanne's photo of 500 Indy on flickr.
September 2014:[]
2014.09.??: Eugenio Centenaro's photo of 500 Indy.
2014.09.??: Octavio Garduno captured this video of 500 Indy in September 2014.
Katmai National Park, video by Octavio Garduno-3
2014.09.03: 500 Indy and the family group (132's or 813's) video by RGW:
903TripletsV3 500 09.03.2014 video by RGW
500 Indy photos (#1 , #2 , #3 , #4 & #5 ) ) by Sue Erickson, 9/3/2014.
500 Indy photos (#1 , #2 , #3 , #4 , #5 , #6 & #7) by Wilson Hepler, 9/3/2014.
2014.09.04: 500 Indy video by JoeBear:
500 Indy September 4, 2014 video by JoeBear
2014.09.06: Ranger Jeanne's photo of 500 Indy on flickr.
2014.09.07: Ranger Jeanne's photo of 500 Indy on flickr.
2014.09.12: 500 Indy video by JoeBear:
Bear 500 Indy on the run September 12, 2014 video by JoeBear
500 Indy video by JoeBear:
Bear 500 - Indy September 12, 2014 video by JoeBear
2014.09.13: Sunrise and 500 Indy near the end video by JoeBear:
Brooks Camp Sunrise featuring Indy 500 September 13, 2014 video by JoeBear
2014.09.18: 500 Indy snapshots (#1 & #2 ):
2014.09.24: 500 Indy maybe video by Janie Nook:
Bear 500 Lower Brooks River August 24, 2014 video by Janie Nook
2014.09.27: Ranger Jeanne's photos of 500 Indy on flickr: Photo #1 , Photo #2 , Photo #3 , & Photo #4 .
October 2014:[]
2014.10.05: 435 Holly's adopted yearling (503 Cubadult) chases 500 Indy on Spit Road. Video by KNP&P:
435 Holly's adopted yearling chases subadult bear 500 October 5, 2014 KNP&P video-0
2014.10.07: 500 meets 171 and her cub video by JoeBear:
Indy 500 meets 171 and cub October 7, 2014 video by JoeBear
2014.10.12: A JoeBear production : River Road: A Love Story (Spit Road) staring 500 Indy, 435 Holly & Cubs (now 719 & 503 Cubadult) and 132 and her three cubs:
River Road A Love Story 503. 435 Holly & Cubs (719 & 503) and 132 and cubs 10.12.2014 by JoeBear
2015: 3.5 Year-Old Subadult Female[]
500 Indy was included in the subadult section of the 2015 Bears of Brooks River book on page 25.
2015 Season:[]
In 2015, 500 Indy would visit Brooks Falls, but could not compete for fishing spots. 500 found an abundant supply of food by scavenging dead fish even though she was often displaced by older, larger bears. . She was one of the smallest independent bears at Brooks River during the 2015 season.
2015.??.??: 500 Indy can be seen at the 1:33 mark into this video by Donna Archer:
One Naughty Bear Cub 2015 video by Donna Archer
2015.??.??: 500 Indy can be seen at 1:10, 1:19, 1:32-1:56, 2:49, and 5:02-5:10 into this video by anonyo67.:
Brooks Falls, Alaska 2015 by anonyo67
2015.??.??: 500 Indy photo by Zoonar Gmbh.
2015.??.?? or prior: 500 Indy photo by gabriella_wanderlust.
June 2015:[]
2015.06.26: Mike Fitz' photo of 500 Indy.
2015.06.29: Jen shared these snapshots (#1 , #2 , #3 & #4 ) of 500 Indy.
July 2015:[]
2015.07.??: 500 Indy video by anonyo67:
Grizzly Bear Comes Close Salmon Fishing Near Brooks Falls July 2015 video by anonyo67
2015.07.??: Michelle Hsieh captured these photos of 500 Indy.
2015.07.02: Ranger Mike's flickr photo of 500 Indy on the lip of Brooks Falls
2015.07.05: Ranger Mike's photos of 500 Indy on his lfickr: Photo #1 & Photo #2 500 Indy's claws
2015.07.10: Jack Denger captured these photos (#1 , #2 , #3 , #4 , #5 , #6 , #7 , #8 , #9 , #10 & #11 ) that may be 500 Indy.
2015.07.11: Jack Denger captured this photo that may be 500 Indy.
2015.07.14:
Ranger Mike's photo of 500 Indy on his flickr.
Martina's video of 409 Beadnose and 775 Lefty on the lip having words with 500 Indy observing from below Brooks Falls:
Brooks Falls cam 775 Lefty and 409 Beadnose "having words" 500 Indy watching from below 07.14.2015 video by Martina
2015.07.26:
500 Indy and 132 with her 3 cubs in this video by Victoria White:
Mom 132 & Cubs & Indy ~ 2015.07.26 video by Victoria White
500 Indy displaced by 856's approach video by Pitchey:
Bear (500 Indy) Runs Through Others Fishing July 26, 2015 video by Pitchey
Ranger Jeanne made two comments about 500 Indy being displaced by 856's approach in the above video by Pitchey: Comment #1 & Comment #2 :
August 2015:
2015.08.01:
500 Indy snapshots by cam viewers:
500 Indy in the lower Brooks River video by Victoria White:
LR 500 Indy 2015.08.01 video by Victoria White
500 Indy at the falls video by Victoria White:
500 Indy 2015.08.01
September 2015:[]
2015.09.22: Is this 500 Indy in this video by Mickey Williams?:
Is this 500 Indy startled by 409 or 410? 9.22.15 video by Mickey Williams
2016: 4.5 Year-Old Subadult Female[]
500 Indy was included in the subadult section of the 2016 Bears of Brooks River book on page 29.
2016 season:[]
Mocha-SO CAL shared this 2016 photo of 500 Indy on 4/22/2020.
Please request mocha-SO CAL'S permission prior to using her photographs!
July 2016:[]
September 2016:[]
2016.09.06 Late Night: Could this be 500 Indy? This does not appear to be the bear that is now known to be 274 Overflow in the fall (aka "Patch bear") . If this is not 500, could it be 717 (aka "Silver Bear")? Video by Erum Chad (aka Erie):
500 Indy RW late night 2016-09-06 Brooks falls video by Erum Chad (Eire)
2016.09.08: 500 Indy video by Erum Chad (aka Erie):
500 Indy LR Brooks falls bears Katmai 2016.09.08 23 03 36 113 video by Erum Chad
October 2016:[]
2016.10.02: 500 Indy video by Erum Chad (aka Erie):
500 Indy LR Brooks falls katmai 2016.10.02 video by Erum Chad (Erie)
2016.10.04: This video by Erum Chad (Erie) is labeled as 503 Cubadult and 500 Indy. After some viewers compared some photos and other videos, there was discussion about if the bear believed to be 500 was actually 201. 201 is included in the 2017 Bears of Brooks book on page 43. Take a look and see what you think. The 2017 book says that 201 was not observed during the 2016 season, but keep in mind that only reflects observations during official bear monitoring sessions and 201 is only infrequently observed during the fall months.:
Bear 503 and 500 Indy (?) LR brooks falls Katmai 2016-10-04 video by Erum Chad (Erie)
2017: 5.5 Year-Old Single Adult Female[]
500 Indy was included in the Subadults section of the 2017 Bears of Brooks River book on page 30.
2018: 6.5 Year-Old Single Adult Female[]
500 Indy was included in the Adult Females secion of the 2018 Bears of Brooks River book on page 55.:
2019: 7.5 Year-Old Adult Female[]
For future use
How 500 Indy Got Her Nickname:[]
The number assigned to this newly independent subadult by the bear monitor, Ranger Leslie Skora, was 500. 500 just happened to be the next number to be assigned for the 2014 season. 500 was often observed by the park staff running around the lower Brooks River and with a number like 500, Indy just became a name used for her. (Indianapolis 500)
Known Courting & Mating:[]
As of the 2018 season, no known courting and mating information is available to us.
Known Litters of Cubs:[]
As of the 2018 season, 500 Indy has not been observed with cubs.
Known Relatives:[]
408/409 family tree - updated Nov 2022
Mother: 409 Beadnose, Speculated
Littermate: 717, Speculated
Maternal Siblings:
130 Tundra and Arctic (number unknown), 2007 litter
909 and 910, 2016 litter
Genetics Study Samples Obtained:[]
2016: None, Successful or Unsuccessful[]
There were no known darting attempts, successful or unsuccessful, by Ranger Michael Saxton in 2016.
2017: None, Successful or Unsuccessful[]
There were no known darting attempts, successful or unsuccessful, by Ranger Michael Saxton in 2017.