88 on July 29, 2019 NPS photo by Ranger Tammy Carmack
Adult Male 2022
Year First Observed: 2019 (as a Subadult)
Year Last Observed: 2024
Known Offspring Of: Unknown at this time
Genetics Study Samples Obtained: Unknown at this time
Identification:[]
88 was initially observed during the 2019 season. We are awaiting additional information about this newly identified subadult from the rangers. Note: Cam viewers were not aware of any sightings of 88 until early in 2022. Theresa Bielawski posted her photos of 88 in chat that were taken between 7/23-7/26/2021. Theresa stated that "I got help from a ranger on this one. Here is 88 in July of 2021." Mckate's ID Tips: 88 has small to medium round ears which he tends to hold forward and a somewhat heavy furrowed brow. His muzzle is boxy and just slightly upturned. He has a shaggy red head and on most cams his coat also appears to be red. Mckate's 88 YouTube playlist. 88 is noted to also have a dark oval patch of fur between his eyes. He also has dark eye rings.
Distinctive Behaviors:[]
Mckate's Notes: In 2021 88 fished all areas of the river and made at least one attempt on the lip. He wrestled with both 821 and 812 who seemed to be familiar with him.
Life History:[]
2019: Subadult Male, 1st Year Officially Identified[]
88 was initially identified and assigned his bear monitoring number during the 2019 season.
KNP&P Ranger Naomi Boak shared this newly identified bear's monitoring number with cam viewers on June 19, 2020 in her 13:08 comment :
July 2019:[]
2019.07.29: 88 on July 29, 2019 NPS photo by Ranger Tammy Carmack in KNP&P's Flickr album via KNP&P Ranger Naomi Boak .:
Modern Day Explorer's 7/29/2019 photo of 88.
2020: Subadult Male[]
88 appears on the list of Bears Monitored in July 2020.
July 2020:[]
2020.07.19: RiverPA's two 7/19/2020 photos of 88, #1 and #2.
Please request Lee's (aka RiverPA ) permission prior to using her photographs !
_.01.jpg "88 July 17, 2020 photo by RiverPA (aka Lee Pastewka) .01.jpg (717 KB)")
_.02.jpg "88 July 17, 2020 photo by RiverPA (aka Lee Pastewka) .02.jpg (432 KB)")
2021: Adult Male[]
July 2021:[]
88 appears on the list of Bears Monitored in July 2021.
2021.07.11: 88 arrives to Brooks Camp, 7/11/2021 video by mckate. "This fellow moved so fast that the cam couldn't keep up."
11 Jul 2021- 88 Arrives (explore.org)
Video by mckate
2021.07.12: Mckate's 7/12/2021 video of 88 fishing the riffles.
12 Jul 2021- 88 in the Riffles (explore.org)
Video by mckate
2021.07.14: A good look at 88 on the lower river, 7/14/2021 video by mckate.
14 Jul 2021- 88 Again (explore.org)
Video by mckate
2021.07.21: 88 dives and wrestles with 821, 7/21/2021 video by mckate. " At first I thought this was 27, but after seeing 27 dive a day later I think it might more closely resembles 88 formerly known as Joe."
21 Jul 2021- 88 Dives and Wrestles with 821 (explore.org)
Video by mckate
2021.07.22: 88 moves along the lower river, 7/22/2021 video by mckate. "88 has a distinctive look with those small round ears that he tends to hold forward."
22 Jul 2021- 88 on the Lower River (explore.org)
Video by mckate
2021.07.23-07.26: Theresa Bielawski shared six 7/23-7/26/2021 photos of 88, #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 and #6. "I got help from a ranger on this one. Here is 88 in July of 2021. Very unique looks. He is the bear on the right in the pictures of the two playing."
Please request Theresa Bielawski's permission prior to using her photographs!
_July_23-July_26,_2021_photo_by_%C2%A9Theresa_Bielawski_.01.jpg "88 (right) July 23-July 26, 2021 photo by ©Theresa Bielawski .01.jpg (510 KB)")
_July_23-July_26,_2021_photo_by_%C2%A9Theresa_Bielawski_.02.jpg "88 (right) July 23-July 26, 2021 photo by ©Theresa Bielawski .02.jpg (391 KB)")
_July_23-July_26,_2021_photo_by_%C2%A9Theresa_Bielawski_.03.jpg "88 (right) July 23-July 26, 2021 photo by ©Theresa Bielawski .03.jpg (383 KB)")
_July_23-July_26,_2021_photo_by_%C2%A9Theresa_Bielawski_.04.jpg "88 (right) July 23-July 26, 2021 photo by ©Theresa Bielawski .04.jpg (384 KB)")
2022: Adult Male[]
June 2022:[]
2022.06.29: Lori Hocking's (aka Lovethebears1) three 6/29/2022 photos of 88, #1, #2 and #3.
Please request Lori's (aka Lovethebears) permission prior to using her photographs!
_.01.jpeg "88 June 29, 2022 photo by Lori Hocking (aka Lovethebears1) .01.jpeg (148 KB)")
_.02.jpeg "88 June 29, 2022 photo by Lori Hocking (aka Lovethebears1) .02.jpeg (124 KB)")
_.03.jpeg "88 June 29, 2022 photo by Lori Hocking (aka Lovethebears1) .03.jpeg (110 KB)")
July 2022:[]
88 appears on the list of Bears Monitored in July 2022.
2022.07.01: Betsy Bear's two 7/1/2022 photos of 88, #1 and #2.
Please request BetsyBear's permission prior to using her photographs!
230 and 88 walk the lower river, 7/1/2022 video by mckate. "Funny that we're seeing so much of 230 this early in the season. He kind of came out of nowhere. I wonder how long he and 88 have known each other, because they seem pretty friendly."
1 Jul 2022- 230 and 88 Walk the Lower River (explore.org)
Video by mckate
88 hopes for 128 Grazer's scraps, 7/1/2022 video by mckate. "Got a better look at this bear and believe it's 88. He's been getting off pretty easy!"
1 Jul 2022- 88 Hopes for 128's Scraps (explore.org)
Video by mckate
128 Grazer catches 2 fish at once, 7/1/2022 video by mckate."That was possibly 88 showing a great interest in her fish. (Need a closer look when he appears again.) He was lucky not to get Grazered."
1 Jul 2022- 128 Catches Two Fish at Once (explore.org)
Video by mckate
2022.07.02: Betsy Bear's two 7/2/2022 photos of 88, #1 and #2.
Please request BetsyBear's permission prior to using her photographs!
Theresa Bielawski shared two 7/2/2022 photos of 88 on 5/21/2023, #1 and #2.
Please request Theresa Bielawski's permission prior to using her photographs!
88 in the riffles, 7/2/2022 video by JG.
Is this 88? - Explore.org July 2, 2022
Video by JG
2022.07.04: 164 and 88 (left at 0:00) play fight, 7/4/2022 video by mckate."That seemed like it might have been a little intense for 164, but he really wanted to play with 88."
4 Jul 2022- 164 and 88 Play Fight (explore.org)-3
Video by mckate
854 Divot and 88 fished together in the riffles, 7/4/2022 gif by LunaCre.
_and_88_(far)_July_4,_2022_gif_by_LunaCre.gif){kind=link}
854 Divot (near) and 88 (far) July 4, 2022 gif by LunaCre
2022.07.08: Truman Evert's 7/8/2022 photo of 88.
Please request Truman Everts' permission prior to using his photographs!
Mocha-SoCal shared a 7/8/2022 photo of 88 and 854 Divot on 8/27/2022.
Please request Mocha-SoCal's permission prior to using her photographs!
_and_854_Divot_(right)_July_8,_2022_photo_by_Mocha-SoCal_.01.jpg "88 (left) and 854 Divot (right) July 8, 2022 photo by Mocha-SoCal .01.jpg (764 KB)")
88 and 854 Divot fish near each other in the riffles, 7/8/2022 gif by LunaCre. "This is the third day we saw 854 Divot and 88 together. Are they just fishing buddies, or is there something more?"
_and_854_Divot_(right)_July_8,_2022_gif_by_LunaCre.gif){kind=link}
88 (left) and 854 Divot (right) July 8, 2022 gif by LunaCre
2022.07.12: 88 is looking pudgy, 7/12/2022 video by mckate.
12 Jul 2022- 88's Looking Pudgy (explore.org)-2
Video by mckate
2022.07.13: 610 (right) fishes near 88, 7/13/2022 gif by LunaCre.
_and_88_(left)_July_13,_202_gif_by_LunaCre.gif){kind=link}
2022.07.15: 128 Grazer yelled at 88 and 99: "Nobody plays at work!" 7/15/2022 gif by LunaCre.
_July_15,_2022_gif_by_LunaCre.gif){kind=link}
128 Grazer, 99 and 88 (left to right) July 15, 2022 gif by LunaCre
Birgitt's 7/15/2022 video of 88 and 99 playing until sheriff 128 Grazer says stop!
88 & 26 Play Until Sheriff 128 Says Stop 2022-07-15 23-32-43 (explore.org)
Video by Birgitt
2022.07.16: Radioquiet's 7/16/2022 snapshot of 88.
88 sits in the riffles, 7/16/2022 video by Ratna Narayan.
Is my profile shot better? Please id . RF Explore.org 7-16-22
Video by Ratna Narayan
2022.07.17: Young boars roughhouse in the riffles, 7/17/2022 video by mckate. "That was 903, 88, and 99 later joined by 27. 88 is popular!"
17 Jul 2022- Young Boars Rough-House in Riffles (explore.org)
Video by mckate
2022.07.18: 88 and 99 play, 7/18/2022 gif by LunaCre.
_and_99_(back)_July_18,_2022_gif_by_LunaCre.gif){kind=link}
88 (front) and 99 (back) July 18, 2022 gif by LunaCre
2022.07.20: 88 is looking buff, 7/20/2022 video by mckate.
20 Jul 2022- 88's Looking Buff (explore.org)
Video by mckate
Birgitt's 7/20/2022 video of 88 hanging out at Alice's then watching 503 and 807 go up the hill.
88 Hangs at Alice's & Watches 807 & 503 Go Up the Hill 2022-07-20 23-05-56(explore.org)
Video by Birgitt
2022.07.24: 88 along the lower river, 7/24/2022 video by Cheryl B.
7-24-2022 RW Well hello again 88 Joe Explore.org
Video by Cheryl B
2023: Adult Male[]
July 2023:[]
2023.07.11: 88 checks in video by mckate:
11 Jul 2023- 88 Checks In (explore.org)
video by mckate
2023.07.13: 88 greets 27 in this video mckate captured:
13 Jul 2023- 88 Greets 27 (explore.org)-2
video by mckate
2023.07.14: 88 bird watches in mckate's video:
14 Jul 2023- 88 Bird Watches (explore.org)
video by mckate
2023.07.17: 88 and 27 looking trendy in the riffles video by mckate.:
17 Jul 2023- 88 and 27 Looking Trendy in the Riffles (explore.org)
video by mckate
A nice look at 88 on July 17, 2023 video by mckate. With their red coats, dark eye circles, and muttonchops 88 and 27 can be hard to tell apart this time of year. I think the biggest clue is in their ears. 88's are trim and he tends to hold them forward. 27's are fluffier and he holds them back and to the side. 27 also has a longer, slightly roman muzzle.:
17 Jul 2023- A Nice Look at 88 (explore.org)
video by mckate
2023.07.26: 27 and 88 growl at 821 in this video captured by mckate:
26 Jul 2023- 27 and 88 Growl at 821 (explore.org)
video by mckate
88 sits by the Riffles fishing hole in this video captured by mckate:
26 Jul 2023- 88 Sits by the Riffles Fishing Hole (explore.org)
video by mckate
CONTENT WARNING! - SOME WIKI USERS MAY FIND THE NEXT SECTION DISTURBING
2023.07.27: 88 is believed to have killed one of 26's two spring cubs at approximately 22:18 AKDT on July 27, 2023.
Mike Fitz, Resident Naturalist with Explore.org and Katmai Media Rangers Naomi Boak and Felicia Jimenez hosted a live chat on July 28, 2023 to discuss the death of one of 26's two spring cubs. The available footage of the death of the cub is included in the live chat, the incident is not gory or bloody, but some viewers may still find it disturbing to watch. Mike does provide a verbal warning prior to airing the footage so viewers will know when to look away or fast forward approximately 10 minutes. The incident happened at approximately 22:18 AKDT on July 27, 2023 after the wildlife viewing platforms were closed. Bear 88, a young adult male, is believed to be the bear that killed 26's spring cub.
Special thanks and comforting hugs to CamOp FunnyBunny who was the cam op on duty on the Brooks Falls and Riffles live cams at the time of the incident. CamOp FunnyBunny logged into their July 27, 2023 shift at approximately 21:09 AKDT, so just over an hour before the death of 26's spring cub took place. Lily says it well, CamOp FunnyBunny's bravery provided an opportunity for us to study and understand bear behavior (p 07/28/23 15:19 DLC).
Life and Death of Bear Cubs Live Q&A - Brooks Live Chat
Explore.org video
LunaCre created this gif of 26 and her remaining spring cub searching for the lost spring cub in the riffles on July 27, 2023 (p 07/28/23 13:34).:
August 2023:[]
2023.08.01: 88 was observed diving in the jacuzzi; mckate captured this video:
1 Aug 2023- 88 Dives in the J (explore.org)
video by mckate
2023.08.02: 88 eating salmon in the lower river August 2, 2023 collage created by Mrs_C (p 13:18). 88 washing his face in the lower river gif created by merry_mermaid (p 13:19).:
2024: Adult Male[]
July 2024:[]
2024.07.31: 88 tries to steal the limelight from 212/138 in mckate's video. These two red bearded fellows are finally showing their differences as they age. They were such a struggle to tell apart as subadults.:
31 Jul 2024- 88 Tries to Steal the Limelight from 212 (explore.org)
video by mckate
How 88 Got His Nickname:[]
88 does not have an official nickname. The NPS has moved away from naming bears at KNP&P. While waiting to learn which bear was 88, he was referred to as "Joe" by bear cam viewers. This is not an official nickname.
Known Courting & Mating:[]
Unknown
Known Relatives:[]
Unknown
Genetics Study Samples Obtained:[]
Unknown