218 Ugly July 2013 NPS photo from the 2015 Bears of Brooks River book page 58 (zoom)
Adult Male ~ No Longer Seen
Year First Identified: 2001 as a Young Adult Male
Year Last Observed: 2013
Known Offspring Of: Not known
Genetics Study Samples Obtained: ?
Identification:[]
2012 Brown Bears of Brooks Camp iBook & 2014 Bears of Brooks River book: 218 Ugly is a medium large bear with a dark blonde coat that is lighter towards his head. When shedding, his coat will be patchy with dark, bare spots. He has blonde, wide-set ears. His dark eyes contrast with his coat and 218 has a short blocky nose. He lacks distinctive scars, but can have numerous small ones. His claws are dark.
In late September 2010, he had a large wound on his left rear leg. In 2011 he had a large, round scar in this area.
2015 & 2016 Bears of Brooks River books: 218 is a medium-large bear with a dark blond coat that is lighter towards his head. When shedding, his coat will be patchy with dark, bare spots. He has blond, wide-set ears and dark claws.
His dark eyes contrast with his coat and #218 has a short blocky nose. In late September 2010, he had a large wound on his left rear leg. In 2011 he had a large, round scar in this area.
2017 & 2018 Bears of Brooks River books: 218 Ugly was moved to the Bears No Longer Seen section of the 2017 edition of the Bears of Brooks River book since he was last observed in 2013.
The information on 218 Ugly appears as follows:
218 was a medium-large bear with a dark blond coat that was lighter towards his head. When shedding, his coat was patchy with dark, bare spots. He had blond, wide-set ears and dark claws.
His dark eyes contrasted with his coat and #218 had a short blocky nose. In late September 2010, he had a large wound on his left rear leg. In 2011 he had a large, round scar in this area.
Distinctive Behaviors:[]
2012 Brown Bears of Brooks Camp iBook & 2014 Bears of Brooks River book: 218 uses some of the most efficient fishing techniques at Brooks Falls. He has been observed fishing successfully almost anywhere, but seems to prefer fishing the lip and in the jacuzzi. After catching many fish, 218 will often eat only the fattiest, most calorie rich parts of the fish (brains, roe, skin) and leave the carcass for scavenging bears and other animals. When first described as a young adult male in 20001, he fished anywhere he could fit in, but was easily displaced by larger bears. More recently he has become one of the more dominant bears at Brooks Falls. He is responsible for the 2007 scar on 489 Ted's left hip.
2014 Bears of Brooks River book: The 2014 Bears of Brooks River book includes all of the 2012 book information above, but also states: This bear seems to be in the prime of his life. In 2009 he arrived at Brooks Falls with numerous, small wounds presumably received while fighting other bears. Few other bears can now displace him from his preferred fishing spots.
2015 & 2016 Bears of Brooks River books: 218 uses some of the most efficient fishing techniques at Brooks Falls. He has been observed fishing successfully almost anywhere, but seems to prefer fishing in the plunge pools below the falls, especially the jacuzzi. After catching many fish, he will often eat only the fattiest, most calorie rich parts of the fish (brains, roe, skin) and leave the carcass for scavenging bears and other animals. When first described as a young adult male in 2001, he fished anywhere he could fit in, but was easily displaced by larger bears. More recently he has become one of the more dominant bears at Brooks Falls. 218 Ugly is responsible for the scar on 489 Ted's left hip . In 2009 he arrived at Brooks Falls with numerous, small wounds presumably received while fighting other bears. Few other bears can now displace him from his preferred fishing spots. However, he was not seen in 2014.
2016 Bears of Brooks River book: Same as 2015 book above, except also includes that 218 Ugly was not observed in 2015.
2017 & 2018 Bears of Brooks River books: 218 Ugly was moved to the Bears No Longer Seen section of the 2017 edition of the Bears of Brooks River book since he was last observed in 2013.
The information on 218 Ugly appears as follows:
218 used some of the most efficient fishing techniques at Brooks Falls. He had been observed fishing successfully almost anywhere, but seemed to prefer fishing in the plunge pools below the falls, especially the jacuzzi. After catching many fish, he would often eat only the fattiest, most calorie rich parts of the fish (brains, roe, skin) and leave the carcass for scavenging bears and other animals.
When first described as a young adult male in 2001, he fished anywhere he could fit in, but was easily displaced by larger bears. Later in his life he became one of the more dominant bears at Brooks Falls. 218 Ugly was responsible for the scar on 489 Ted's left hip In 2009 he arrived at Brooks Falls with numerous small wounds presumably received while fighting other bears. Few other bears could displace him from his preferred fishing spots.
Life History:[]
2001: Young Adult Male, 1st Year Classified[]
218 Ugly was initially observed and classified in 2001 as a young adult male.
When first described as a young adult male in 2001, 218 Ugly fished anywhere he could fit in, but was easily displaced by larger bears.
2002:[]
July 2002:[]
2004:[]
2004 Season:[]
218 Ugly and 6 Headbob / Bullet had a fight. 6 Headbob / Bullet won that fight and then went and rubbed on a tree on the island down river of Brooks Falls to display his dominance.
2006: []
2006 Season:[]
Carol Moraga captured Brooks Falls video in 2006. Mike Fitz commented on the video and identified 218 Ugly as the bear seen from 2:42-3:07.
2007:[]
2007 Season:[]
In a surprise attack 218 Ugly attacks 489 Ted and leaves a large flap of fur/skin/tissue hanging from 489 Ted. A park visitor captured footage of this encounter between 218 Ugly and 489 Ted:
218 Ugly courted 402 during the 2007 season. 402's page of the 2014 Bears of Brooks River book states: ...In 2007 402 arrived at Brooks River with a single spring cub, but soon lost it. She then went back into estrus and several males pursued her, most prominently #218. In 2008, she had three spring cubs.
218 Ugly and 480 Otis were observed playing together during the 2007 or 2008 season per Ranger Tammy Carmack on September 9, 2013.
June 2007:[]
July 2007:[]
2007.07.04: 218 Ugly (left) and 24 BB / Bald Butt (right) NPS photo from the KNP&P webpage: Bear Encounters in Katmai
"The position of a bear's ears often indicates its level of stress. The bear on the left lowered his ears against his skull when the larger and more dominant bear on the right approached. This was likely a sign of defensiveness. Note that the more dominant bear's ears are still upright. Bears will lower their ears when they react defensively around people too.:
2008:[]
2008 Season:[]
218 Ugly and 480 Otis were observed playing together during the 2007 or 2008 season per Ranger Tammy Carmack on September 9, 2013.
July 2008:[]
2008.07.08: 218 Ugly was observed fishing at Brooks Falls.
2008.07.19: 218 Ugly was observed fishing at Brooks Falls. Ranger Jeanne captured this photograph of 218 Ugly with 402's 2008 offspring Artie on July 19, 2008.
2009:[]
In 2009 he arrived at Brooks Falls with numerous, small wounds presumably received while fighting other bears. Few other bears can now displace him from his preferred fishing spots.
July 2009:[]
September 2009:[]
2010:[]
July 2010:[]
2010.07.??: Matt Hirt's July 2010 video titled "Beggar Bears." 16 Cinnamon (right) can be see waiting/begging for scraps from 218 Ugly (left) from 0:19-1:19. The same scenario is noted from 2:05-3:10 where 16 Cinnamon waits for scraps. 438 Flo (blonde) can also be seen in this video with her two 3.5 year old cubs (dark with reddish fur around their heads) One of these cubs is believed to be 274 Overflow. 438 Flo is seen with her cubs from 0:18-0:36 and the 2 cubs are seen from 2:38-2:46.
2010.07.08: 218 Ugly mated with 402 on the evening of July 8, 2010. 402 also mated with 856 the same evening. Brooks Camp's July 9, 2010 tweet.:
2010.07.22: Matt Hirt captured video of 218 Ugly (lighter) and 194 (darker) on top of Brooks Falls, on 7/22/2010. Note: Matt confirmed the date in YouTube comments on his 7/23/2010 video. In this video, 218 Ugly and 194 are seen in a brief scuffle where you can see them jaw popping. 634 Popeye is noted to be in the pool below towards the end of the video. Mike Fitz confirmed the bear identifications.
September 2010:[]
In late September 2010, he had a large wound on his left rear leg.
2011: Adult Male[]
2011 Season or Prior:[]
2011 Season or Prior: 218 Ugly is the focus of this video published August 17, 2011 by park visitor oliviayhu.:
2011 Season or Prior: 634 Popeye attempts to steal 218 Ugly's fish and then 218 Ugly rubs on the tree in this video by guitarhead615 published July 7, 2011:
2011 Season:[]
In 2011 he had a large, round scar in the area of his late September 2010 left rear leg wound.
July 2011:[]
218 Ugly mated with 94 in July 2011:
218 Ugly's information provided in the 2012 Brown Bears of Brooks Camp iBook stated that 218 Ugly mated with 94 in 2011. On 94's page of the 2014 Bears of Brooks River book this additional information about 218 and 94 mating in 2011 is provided.:
In July 2011 she was courted by 856. Courting is a process through which adult males habituate adult females to their presence before mating. During this courtship the pair spent extensive time along Brooks River’s north bank, in the area between the Cultural Site Trail and Brooks Falls. As 856’s consort, 94 approached the falls much closer than she would have as a single bear.
Courting brown bears are promiscuous. While 856 fished at the falls, 94 mated with other bears. During 2011 she mated with at least four males: 45 Tatonka, 218 Ugly, 747 "Colbert", and 856. However, she had no cubs with her when first seen in 2012, nor did she have cubs in 2013. Whether she lost cubs, or simply failed to give birth, is unknown.
August 2011:[]
2011.08.01 or PRIOR: On August 1, 2011 bcglaxer published this video of 218 Ugly with 16 Cinnamon.:
2012: Adult Male[]
218 Ugly was included in the 2012 Brown Bears of Brooks Camp iBook.:
2012 Season:[]
2012.??.??: 218 Ugly can be seen at 0:41 & 0:56 in the jacuzzi, 2:24 eating fish on rock near island, and at 3:04 on left having words with 856 in this video by J. Scott Parker.:
July 2012:[]
2012.07.27: Park visitor mouzzer captured this video on July 27, 2012. At the 1:25 mark into the video, 218 Ugly is seen approaching 128 Grazer. They check each other out and 128 Grazer lets 218 Ugly know to keep his distance. At 3:13 we see 128 Grazer's frenetic fishing style as a young adult. Goldilocks thinks that is 218 Ugly, in the "J", who takes offence.:
September 2012:[]
2013: Adult Male, Last Year Observed[]
218 Ugly was described by Ranger Mike FItz as having a moderate level of habituation towards humans. 218 Ugly uses Brooks Falls at all hours seemingly independent of the number of people on the platform. Occasionally, 218 Ugly will fish around the floating bridge (another area where people are concentrated) in the fall, but most often 218 stays further upriver.
2013 Season:[]
218 Ugly was considered to be in the second level of dominance with 83 Wayne Brother, 634 Popeye, and 32 Chunk. The 1st level of dominance belongs to 747 "Colbert", and 814 Lurch. 2013.??.??: Kara Stenberg captured these photographs of 218 Ugly during the 2013 season.: Please request Kara Stenberg's permission prior to using her photographs!
July 2013:[]
2013.07.??: Stephen B captured this video of 218 Ugly during his July 2013 trip to Brooks Camp.:
2013.07.10: 218 Ugly was observed fishing at Brooks Falls.
2013.07.13: Ranger Jeanne's photo of 218 Ugly.
2013.07.21: Ranger Jeanne's photo of 218 Ugly.
September 2013:[]
2013.09.11: Per Ranger Mike, 218 Ugly has not been observed yet for the fall season. as of the week of September 11, 2013.
2014: 218 Ugly was not Observed During Official Bear Monitoring Sessions[]
218 Ugly was included in the 2014 Bears of Brooks River book on page 19. 218 Ugly's July 2007 altercation with 489 Ted that resulted in 489's vicious wound is mentioned on 489 Ted's page of the 2014 book, page 23. A July 2007 NPS photo of 218 Ugly with 24 BB (aka Bald Butt) appears on 24 BB's page, page 53. 218 Ugly courting 402 during the 2007 season is mentioned on 402's page of the 2014 book, page 35. 218 Ugly and 94 mating in July 2011 is mentioned on 94's page of the 2014 book, page 32. A September 2012 NPS photo of 218 Ugly appears on the Adult Males page of the 2014 book, page 12. 218 Ugly's efficient fishing techniques at the falls are mentioned on 480 Otis' page of the 2014 book, page 22.:
2014 Season:[]
218 Ugly was not observed in 2014 during official bear monitoring sessions.
July 2014:[]
2014.07.17 Live Chat: At approximately 15:00 AKDT on July 17, 2014, Ranger Mike did an impromptu live chat on the Lower River live cam. At approximately 58:42 into that live chat Ranger Mike mentioned that a reliable ranger at Brooks Camp reported seeing 218 Ugly earlier in the season at Brooks Camp. Unfortunately the only known link to that live chat was on ustream and that link no longer works. There is also belief that it may be actually been 868 Wayne Brother that was observed and mis-identified as 218 Ugly at the time.
2015: 218 Ugly was not Observed []
218 Ugly was included in the 2015 Bears of Brooks River book in the Adult Males secion on page 58:
2015 Season:[]
218 Ugly was not observed in 2015.
2016: 218 Ugly was not Observed[]
218 Ugly was included in the Adult Males section of the 2016 Bears of Brooks River book on page 68,: The only changed information from the 2015 edition and the 2016 edition is the added information that 218 Ugly was not observed during the 2015 season.
2016 Season:[]
218 Ugly was not observed in 2016.
2017: 218 Ugly was not Observed[]
218 Ugly was moved to the Bears No Longer Seen section of the 2017 edition of the Bears of Brooks River book on page 92. The last year that 218 Ugly was identified during official bear monitoring sessions was in 2013.:
There was one possible early 2014 season sighting of 218 Ugly by a reliable ranger as far as bear sightings go, but 218 Ugly has not been even possibly seen since then. There is also belief that the early season 2014 sighting of 218 Ugly may have actually been 868 Wayne Brother and not 218 Ugly.
Bears like 218 Ugly that have been observed using the Brooks River each year for a decade or more, and then are not observed for a few consecutive years are presumed dead. Given 218 Ugly's classification as a young adult in 2001 and the twelve years he was observed utilizing the Brooks River until he was last officially observed in 2013; 218 Ugly would have been at least 16.5 years old when last observed. Brown bears can live to 30 years or more, but usually live 20 years of less. However, some bears do change their behavior patterns, so there is always that rare possibility that 218 Ugly has found another plentiful fishing area since 2013 and may return to the Brooks River again some day..
How 218 Ugly Got His Nickname:[]
218 Ugly's nickname was inspired by his early season shedding pattern. However, when 218 Ugly's new coat grows in, he is quite the handsome bear. Does a nickname like Ugly really fit a bear like 218 when shedding is a temporary circumstance all brown bears endure?
Fun Facts About 218 Ugly:[]
- 218 Ugly was not a small adult male, but a bear like 24 BB (aka Bald Butt) would make 218 Ugly look like a subadult
- 218 Ugly and 480 Otis were playmates at one time in the mid 2000's..
- 218 Ugly was a leading male star that made the cut for a cameo in the DisneyNature Bears movie.
- 218 Ugly really wasn't ugly, he just had bad fur weeks!
Known Courting & Mating:[]
2007: []
402: 218 Ugly Courted 402 during the 2007 Season[]
218 Ugly courted 402 during the 2007 season. 402's page of the 2014 Bears of Brooks River book states:
...In 2007 402 arrived at Brooks River with a single spring cub, but soon lost it. She then went back into estrus and several males pursued her, most prominently #218. In 2008, she had three spring cubs.
2010:[]
402: 218 Ulgy Mated with 402 on July 8, 2010. 402 also mated with 856 on the same evening ::[]
2011:[]
94: 218 Ugly Mated with 94 in July 2011[]
218 Ugly's information provided in the 2012 Brown Bears of Brooks Camp iBook stated that 218 Ugly mated with 94 in 2011. On 94's page of the 2014 Bears of Brooks River book this additional information about 218 and 94 mating in 2011 is provided.:
In July 2011 she was courted by 856. Courting is a process through which adult males habituate adult females to their presence before mating. During this courtship the pair spent extensive time along Brooks River’s north bank, in the area between the Cultural Site Trail and Brooks Falls. As 856’s consort, 94 approached the falls much closer than she would have as a single bear.
Courting brown bears are promiscuous. While 856 fished at the falls, 94 mated with other bears. During 2011 she mated with at least four males: 45 Tatonka, 218 Ugly, 747 "Colbert", and 856. However, she had no cubs with her when first seen in 2012, nor did she have cubs in 2013. Whether she lost cubs, or simply failed to give birth, is unknown.
Known Relatives:[]
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Genetics Study Samples Obtained:[]
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