Comment Chat with Mike Fitz, Explore Bearcam Fellow & Ranger Russ @Katmai Ranger, June 8, 2018 09:00 AM - 11:00 AM Announcement Made June 7, 2018:[]
On Thursday, June 7, 2018 at 10:54, Mike Fitz announced the Friday, June 8. 2018 comment chat:
"Hello from Brooks River. On Friday, June 8 please join Ranger Russ (as Katmai Ranger) and I for a chat right here in the comments from 9-11 a.m. AKDT (1 p.m.-3 p.m. EDT) to chat about brown bears, Brooks River, and Katmai.
Due to the potential for a high volume of questions, we’ll be experimenting with a different way to chat in the comments. Every fifteen minutes, we’ll post a comment asking for your questions. Please post your question in response to that. As always, you’re welcome to discuss our answers and ask follow up questions. However, when you post in response to the fifteen minute prompts, then it will greatly help us to keep track of your questions, and (hopefully) reduce the chances of missing a question.
Although this is a relatively quiet time at Brooks River, several bears are in the area, like 435 Holly and her two yearlings (we'll share some photos of the family in the chat). Ranger Russ and I are looking forward to talking with you."
Commenet Chat Mike Fitz', Explore Bearcam Fellow & Ranger Russ', @Katmai Ranger June 8, 2018 09:00 - 11:00:[]
On Friday, June 8, 2018 at 9:00 AM, Mike Fitz , Explore Bearcam Fellow began the comment chat : "Good morning from Brooks Camp. Katmai Ranger (Ranger Russ) and I will be chatting with you until 11 a.m. AKDT (3 p.m. EDT) to talk about bears, salmon, and Katmai.
I’m explore.org’s bearcam fellow for 2018 and Ranger Russ is an interpretive ranger stationed at Brooks Camp in Katmai National Park.
Due to the volume of questions, we’ll be experimenting with a different way to chat in the comments. Every fifteen minutes, we’ll post a comment asking for your questions. Please post your question in response to that. As always, you’re welcome to discuss our answers and ask follow up questions. When you post in response to the fifteen minute prompts, however, then it will greatly help us to keep track of your questions, and (hopefully) reduce the chances of missing a question.
Post your questions and comments below. Sometimes the volume of questions can be high, but we’ll do my best to answer them. Thanks for joining us today."
Since both Mike Fitz and Ranger Russ (@Katmai Ranger) were answering questions / replying to chatters comments at the same time the questions and answers for the June 8, 2018 comment chat appear below in chronological order for Mike Fitz' comments and then in chronological order for Ranger Russ' (@Katmai Ranger) comments.
Mike Fitz' Comments (Snips):[]
Ranger Russ' Comments (@Katmai Ranger) (Snips):[]
Mike Fitz' Comments (Links):[]
2018.06.08 09:00 01 Opening comment chat
2018.06.08 09:02 02 856 how he looks, where he may fit in the 2018 hierarchy, and competition he faces
2018.06.08 09:04 03 List of bears seen so far this season (when comprehensive list and includes partial list)
2018.06.08 09:07 04 Mortality rate of newly emancipated subadults and other aged bears
2018.06.08 09:08 05 Does 634 Popeye still have the limp he had last year (2017)
2018.06.08 09:11 06 How healthy the bears look so far this season
2018.06.08 09:11 07 Ranger Russ saw 634 Popeye recently
2018.06.08 09:13 08 Has 854 Divot been seen and likelyhood she will / will have emancipated her 3 2017 yearlings
2018.06.08 09:15 09 Mike begins second round of questions from chatters
2018.06.08 09.16 10 What bears are eating this time of year with photo of bear scat containing moose hooves fragments. Link to photo only
2018.06.08 09.19 11 Changes in bear behavior / habits ~ examples 474 & 775 Lefty
2018.06.08 09:20 12 Why he thinks 611 will be interesting to watch
2018.06.08 09:20 13 He has not hiked up Dumpling Mountain yet this season, maybe tomorrow or Sunday
2018.06.08 09:24 14 128 Grazer how she is looking this season & her relative size, sows caring for cubs vs single females, how taxing caring for cubs is, & what bears are eating now & salmon will remain the bears' most important food source
2018.06.08 09:26 15 Will 128 Grazer be less aggressive without cubs in 2018 than she was in 2016-2017 with cubs
2018.06.08 09:27 16 Lower river cam any changes this season to improve them
2018.06.08 09.29 17 He will be discussing identifying bears by physical and behavioral characteristics during the live chats
2018.06.08 09:32 18 Will the abundance of trout in the river draws bears to Brooks earlier?
2018.06.08 09:33 19 Mike begins 3rd round of questions, share the link to his June 6, 2018 Explore.org blog Brooks River Bear Mating Season , shares photos of 856 and 409 Beadnose courting, discussed mating season and bear behaviors during that time, discussed how 856 is looking and 2017 events between 856, 32 Chunk, and 747.
2018.06.08 09:34 20 Do they ever see any evidence that the bears prey on any large or small animals while waiting for the salmon?
2018.06.08 09:34 21 Could 611 be 68 in early season?
2018.06.08 09:34 22 He will bring back photos from his hike up Dumpling Mountain tomorrow or Sunday
2018.06.08 09:35 23 Bears prefers salmon over trout
2018.06.08 09:35 24 Update on the 2018 Bears of Brooks River book
2018.06.08 09:36 25 Is Ranger Michael Saxton at Brooks yet and has he identified a darting timeframe for this season?
2018.06.08 09:40 26 How are the spruce trees in the area looking this year?
2018.06.08 09:42 27 When bears emerge from their dens
2018.06.08 09:43 28 128 Grazer possible emancipation of cubs
2018.06.08 09:45 29 Will Ranger Michael Saxton be darting at Brooks Camp this season?
2018.06.08 09:46 30 Mike opening the 4th round of questions
2018.06.08 09:49 31 Will it be more difficult for Little Lip Fisher to fish the lip since 409 Beadnose and 128 Grazer appear to have emancipated their cubs?
2018.06.08 09:49 32 Any updates on the DNA / genetics / darting project?
2018.06.08 09:50 33 Mike is waiting to see 128 Grazer alone (as a single female) to confirm that she has emancipated her cubs.
2018.06.08 09:51 34 The photos he posts in bearcam comments can be used unless he specifies otheriwse
2018.06.08 09:52 35 Has he seen any changes at the falls that may affect fishing habits?
2018.06.08 09:54 36 Sows with cubs mating. Link provided for documentary by viewer posing question
2018.06.08 09:56 37 Has 480 Otis been seen?
2018.06.08 10:00 38 What type of impact might all the downed and dead trees have on the Brooks environment?
2018.06.08 10:02 39 Mike opening 5th round of questions & provides photo of Brooks Falls
2018.06.08 10:03 40 He has seen moose tracks and scat, but not the live animal
2018.06.08 10:04 41 He can't identify the bear butt in left photo, but the photo on the right looks like 151 Walker. Photo he is referring to can be seen at this link .
2018.06.08 10:04 42 He thinks that is an old cut root that has darkened to the same color as a bear paw not a out in front of the bear on the trail in the photo on the left. Photo he is referring to can be seen at this link.
2018.06.08 10:06 43 Is bear spray allowed when visiting Brooks Camp?
2018.06.08 10:07 44 Is the bear on the left 151 Walker too, or a different bear? Photo he is referring to can be seen at this link.
2018.06.08 10.08 45 If he was going camping at Brooks, what would be the one thing, other than the obvious, that you would refuse to leave home without?
2018.06.08 10:11 46 The water in the river is definitely higher than average for this time of year, but not by much.
2018.06.08 10:13 47 Hiking in groups at Brooks Camp, the safety record at Brooks Camp
2018.06.08 10:14 48 When he hikes Dumpling Mountain (plans to this weekend), he will be sure to take photos and share my experience with everyone. I'll even be looking for bear dens near the mountain top.
2018.06.08 10:16 49 DNA (genetics) results from Ranger Michael Saxton's study may be a few years
10:17 50 2018.06.08 10:17 50 Mike opens 6th round of questions
2018.06.08 10:20 51 Will the bears be more likely to gravitate towards people-cleared trails if there are more areas blocked by downed trees?
2018.06.08 10:21 52 Mike will talk to Ranger Michael Saxton about when genetics study (DNA project) results will be available
2018.06.08 10:22 53 In the 1990s the entire island below the falls was covered with willows
2018.06.08 10:24 54 Berries available on Dumpling Mountain this time of year
2018.06.08 10:26 55 With the high number of eagles in King Salmon this winter would he expect large numbers of eagles at Brooks Camp this season
2018.06.08 10:31 56 Mike opens 7th round of questions, shares information about what the bears are eating right now and a photo of bear scat
2018.06.08 10:32 57 The best way to determine what the bears have been eating is to look at bear scat. Most bear scat he has seen recently has been filled with grass.
2018.06.08 10:37 58 How many bears he estimates the Brooks area will currently support
2018.06.08 10:40 59 Earthquakes in the area and information about the 1912 Novarupta eruption
2018.06.08 10:43 60 The binoculars he uses
2018.06.08 10:46 61 Mike opens 8th round of questions
2018.06.08 10:47 62 Changes in the ecosystem he feels will have an effect on the bears' behavior
2018.06.08 10:49 63 Do bears lose most of the parasites during hibernation?
2018.06.08 10:52 64 Do bears like salmon over trout? Will they eat trout if there are no salmon yet?
2018.06.08 10:53 65 Will the LR cam be turned off for 2 weeks in August again this year to permit for privacy for the native family?
2018.06.08 10:57 66 Will the lifting of hunting restrictions have a effect on Katmai? Link provided in Mike's reply
2018.06.08 10.58 67 Why the LR cam was turned off for 2 weeks in August in 2017.
2018.06.08 11:00 69 "Thanks for joining us on the chat today. You really kept us busy, which is great. We’ll be back online to chat some more soon.
If you want to read all of our comments, please visit our profiles (Mike Fitz and Katmai Ranger). You can also stay up to date on the latest news and info from by following any of Katmai’s social media pages (http://www.nps.gov/katm/lea... ) as well as explore.org’s.
https://www.facebook.com/ex... https://twitter.com/exploreorg
Mike & Russ went back to answer unanswered questions:
Ranger Russ' Comments (Links):[]
Add here
LaniH's Google Doc of Comment Chat: []
LaniH google doc of Mike Fitz', Explore Bearcam Fellow & Ranger Russ' (@Katmai Ranger) comment chat