24 BB (aka Bald Butt) NPS photos from the 2012 Brown Bears of Brooks Camp iBook gif created by Xander-Sage
Adult Male ~ No Longer Seen
Year First Identified: 1996 as an adult
Year Last Identified: Early summer 2009
Offspring Of: Not known
Genetics Study Samples Obtained: It is not known to us how or when genetics study samples of 24 BB were obtained or by whom, but we do have the DNA evidenced known relatives listed below in the designated section of this page. Please see the "Known Relatives" section below..
Identification:[]
2014 Bears of Brooks River book: 24 is a large, long-legged, tall, and dark bear with white claws. His coat is dark brown with hints of blonde around his neck. Large areas of his hind quarters are usually bare when shedding. He has a narrow, straight “Roman” nose giving his face a black bear-like profile. He is missing a chunk of flesh from his nostrils and numerous scars can be visible, but none are distinctive.
2015, 2016 & 2017 Bears of Brooks River books: 24 was a large, long-legged, tall, and dark bear with white claws. In July, his coat was medium-dark brown with hints of blonde around his neck. Large areas of his hind quarters were usually bare when he was shedding. He had a narrow, straight Roman nose which gave his face a black bear-like profile. He was missing a chunk of flesh from his nostrils and numerous scars were visible, but none were distinctive.
Distinctive Behaviors:[]
2014 Bears of Brooks River book: For many years, 24 was one of the largest, most dominant bears seen along the Brooks River. He was only observed at Brooks from late June through July. He was patient when fishing, preferring to catch fish at the pool and cascades on the north side of the falls. Bear 24 has a reputation of being hyper-dominant and was observed killing other bears. He was displaced as the dominant Brooks bear in 2006 and 2007 by 864 (Norman) . After his encounters with 864, he was less aggressive towards other bears, but still very dominant. He has not been seen since 2009.
2015. 2016 & 2017 Bears of Brooks River books: For many years, 24 was one of the largest, most dominant bears seen along Brooks River. As early as 1997, bear monitoring staff noted that he was the most dominant bear on the river. Bear 24 had a reputation of being hyper-dominant and was observed killing other bears. His reign as most dominant bear of Brooks River ended in 2006 and 2007 when he was displaced by 864. After his encounters with 864, he was less aggressive towards other bears, but still very dominant. He has not been seen since 2009.
Life History:[]
1997:[]
July 1997:[]
1997.07.??: July 21, 1997 article by Craig Medred :
1999:[]
July 1999:[]
1999.07.16: 24 BB (aka Bald Butt) by Wesley Loy :
Cam viewer kissper samoyed worked with the Anchorage, AK library to retrieve page 2 of Wesley Loy's 24 BB article. Only page one was available to post above. Thank you kissper samoyed! The article was on microfilm and the date published was July 20, 1999 in The Anchorage Daily News.
1999.07.23: 24 BB (aka Bald Butt) article by Wesley Loy in Fairbanks Daily News - Miner :
2002:[]
July 2002:[]
2002.07.05: Possible 24 BB (aka Bald Butt) photo by Pam Shales.
2003:[]
Summer 2003:[]
24 BB (aka Bald Butt) in summer of 2003 video by KatmaiBrownBear:
June 2003:[]
2003.06.27: On June 27, 2003, 24 BB (aka Bald Butt) killed 415's spring cub on the point of the beach in front of Brooks Camp. This was 415's first known litter.
July 2003:[]
2003.07.??: In July 2003 Harry Eggens captured this photo that he named "Alpha Male" of 24 BB. On June 10, 2018 at 07:39 Mike Fitz confirmed the identification of 24 BB in Harry Eggens July 2003 photo .
2003.07.15: Possible 24 BB (aka Bald Butt) photo by Steve Bloom.
2003.07.16: Possible 24 BB (aka Bald Butt) photo by Steve Bloom.
Other possible 2003 photos of 24 BB (aka Bald Butt) photos by Steve Bloom: Photo #1 and Photo #2 .
2003.07.31: 24 BB photo by Randy Harris. Mike Fitz commented on April 4, 2018 that Randy Harris' photo does appear to be 24 in 2003.
2005:[]
July 2005:[]
2005.07.10: Jeff Mondragon's photos of possibly 24 BB (aka Bald Butt): Photo #1 and Photo #2
2006:[]
2006 or PRIOR: []
Jim Griffin has two photos of 24 BB (aka Bald Butt): Photo #1 and Photo #2 . Mike Fitz confirmed 24's ID in this March 31, 2018 comment .
June 2006:[]
2006.06.29: NPS photos of 24 BB .:
July 2006:[]
2007:[]
June 2007:[]
2007.06.27: Ranger Jeanne's photo of 24 BB (aka Bald Butt).
2007.06.30: Ranger Jeanne's photo of 24 BB (aka Bald Butt).
July 2007:[]
2007.07.04: 24 BB (aka Bald Butt) right with 218 Ugly left . NPS photo from KNP&P webiste Plan Your Visit page:
2007.07.06: 24 BB (aka Bald Butt) photo by Kenneth R. Whitten.
2007.07.??: (July 6, 2007 or after ): Possibly 24 BB (aka Bald Butt) photo by Steve Agrella .
2007.07.11: 24 BB photo by Dan Lind Photography on 7/11/2007. Two additional photos of 24 BB on 7/11/2007, #1 (right) and #2.
2007.07.08: 864 Norman defeats 24 BB (aka Bald Butt) and displaces 24 as the most dominant bear known to use the Brooks River at that time. KNP&P video :
The July 8, 2007 fight between 24 BB and 864 Norman can also be seen at the beginning of this KNP&P Bear Fight video. The bear encounter at approximately 25 seconds into the video are 218 Ugly and 489 Ted on July 29, 2007. The bears at the end of the video (0:35) are 856 and 402 with her spring cubs in July 2011.
In 2007, when 864 Norman defeated 24 BB in a fight, a subordinate adult male took the opportunity to chase 24 BB per Ranger Mike's July 14, 2014 comment:
On July 22, 2015, Ranger Roy Wood and Ranger Mike Fitz discuss the end of 24 BB's reign in 2007 during this live chat .:
2007.07.14: 24 BB (aka Bald Butt) photo by Mike Wiley.
2008: []
Rangers Roy Wood and Mike Fitz discussed the 7/8/2007 fight between 24 BB and 864 Norman during a 7/22/2015 Live Chat about Bear Dominance, video by Explore (published 7/23/2015). The discussion begins at 30:40. Mike states that "that fight happened in 2007 and we hardly ever saw him again. We saw him once the next year (2008) and that was it."
2009:[]
2009 or prior: 24 BB was last observed in 2009. He can be briefly seen at 12:26 in this video, by Go Traveler. Note: This video will be moved to the proper year if that can be determined.
June 2009:[]
2009.06.22:
2012:[]
24 BB (aka Bald Butt) was included in the 2012 Brown Bears of Brooks Camp iBook:
2014:[]
24 BB (aka Bald Butt) was included in bears no longer seen section of the 2014 Bears of Brooks River book on page 53:
2015:[]
24 BB aka Bald Butt) was included in the bears no longer seen section of the 2015 Bears of Brooks River book on page 75:
24 BB is discussed beginning at 29:08 into this July 22, 2015 live chat with Ranger Roy and Ranger Mike :
2016:[]
24 BB aka Bald Butt) was included in the bears no longer seen section of the 2016 Bears of Brooks River book on page 85:
2017:[]
24 BB aka Bald Butt) was included in the bears no longer seen section of the 2017 Bears of Brooks River book on page 87:
How He Got His Nickname:[]
24 BB's shed pattern would leave him with a bald butt.
Fun Facts About 24 BB:[]
- When 24 BB was standing on all four paws and perked his head up, he could look Ranger Roy right in the eyes. Ranger Roy is 6 feet tall.
- 24 BB had really long legs and was incredibly muscular.
- 24 BB was probably 9 feet tall when standing on his hind legs.
- 24 BB would have been taller and more muscular than 856.
- 24 BB was not as fat as 747 "Colbert".
- 24 BB was truly an impressive animal.
- 24 BB was Brooks royalty and was every bit as impressive as Van from Great Bear Stakeout with Chris Morgan.
- 24 BB made 218 Ugly look like a subadult.
- 24 BB did not seem to react to the presence of people when he was courting a female and walked between a group of people headed to the falls.
Known Courting & Mating:[]
24 BB mated with 402 which resulted in the production of offspring 858 Artie and 859. 24 BB mated with 216 Marilyn's mother which resulted in the production of offspring 216 Marilyn. 24 BB mated with 216 Marilyn which resulted in the production of offspring 790 Weevil Bear and 854 Divot.
Known Relatives:[]
Offspring:
216 Marilyn (1996 or Prior)
DNA analysis has confirmed that 24 BB is the father of 216 Marilyn.
402 and 403 Egberta, 209 Beauty's 1998 litter
DNA analysis has confirmed that 24 BB is 402 and 403 Egberta's father.
790 Weevil Bear (female) & 854 Divot (female), 216 Marilyn's 2002 litter
DNA analysis has confirmed that 24 BB is the father of 790 Weevil Bear and 854 Divot. He is also their grandfather, because he is the father of 216 Marilyn.
858 Artie (male) & 859 Stella (female), 402's 2004 litter
DNA analysis has confirmed that 24 BB is the father of 858 Artie and 859 Stella. 24 BB is also 402's father, making him also the grandfather of 858 Artie & 859 Stella.
858 Artie was recorded using the Brooks River 2006-2010. 859 Stella was recorded during 2006 only.
Genetics Study Samples Obtained:[]
It is not known to us how or when genetics study samples of 24 BB were obtained or by whom, but we do have the DNA evidenced known relatives listed above in the designated section of this page. Please see the "Known Relatives" section above.. We do have this 2006 - 2007 DNA Genetics information about 24 BB from Ranger Mike Fitz in 2013:
