Footage shows the moose running for its life and ultimately falling on the ice as vehicle comes partially into view.
An Alaska resident has been cited for harassing a young moose by allegedly chasing the animal in his four-wheeler along the iced-over Yukon River.
Elliot Edwards, 38, of Pilot Station, was cited “for using a motor vehicle to harass, herd, drive, or molest game,” according to the Alaska Department of Public Safety.
Troopers cited Edwards after receiving a tip from a concerned citizen and reviewing video footage posted to Facebook by Edwards on Jan. 27. (The footage was still public at the time of this post and can be viewed below.)
In the footage, the moose is running for its life and ultimately slips on the ice as the red vehicle comes partially into view.
A dispatch from The Alaska Department of Public Safety:
“The moose attempted to get to safety multiple times, but was unable because of high river banks. The four-wheeler continued to chase the moose until it slipped on the ice.
“[An] investigation determined on January 29, 2024, Edwards used a red Honda four-wheeler to chase a calf moose until it slipped on the ice.”
Edwards is scheduled to be arraigned March 7 in Bethel.
–Generic moose image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Some on social media accepted this theory while others suggested that the moose carcass had been stood up and staged for a photo opportunity.
An image showing a young moose frozen in place, still standing, was widely shared in Alaska this past week.
But was it so cold recently near Talkeetna – 35 below zero, with heavy snow drifts – that a moose could freeze to death without falling over?
Some on social media accepted this possibility while others suggested that the photographer stood the moose carcass in a clearing for a more striking image.
But Mickey Kenny, the photographer who captured the image last Monday, shot down that theory on a Sharing Alaska Facebook comment thread.
Kenny stated:
“Just for the sake of focusing our efforts in the right direction, I most definitely didn’t stage the moose, nor were there signs of anyone propping it up, though enough people have put that theory out that there must be strong reasons to believe it.”
Kenny said he returned to the site Tuesday and observed that the moose was not leaning against a tree, “but it does look like an alder sort of pinned its hip.”
Kenny added: “Seems like an easy enough thing for the moose to work through, but keeping in mind the insanely deep snow, the fierce cold spell, my thought is that it just accepted the pin and [passed] away.”
More recently, however, Kenny told Alaska’s News Source that friends told him they’d heard that the moose had been moved into the clearing by others others who discovered the carcass near a hiking trail.
Kenny is quoted: “That moose was dead and frozen on the trail, and then, you know, a friend of a friend saw a group of people — like six to eight of them, move the moose carcass off the trail — still no explanation on why it was stood up, or exactly like how it stood up so perfectly, but basically, they did that.”
That hardly solves the mystery. But the death of the moose, regardless of circumstances, illustrates how tough winters can be for large animals that don’t hibernate and can’t easily hide from the elements.
Where can you see sand dunes, streams, and mountains all in one place? Did you guess Alaska? If not, it’s high time you discover the beauty of Kobuk Valley National Park.
Located in the remote Alaskan wilderness, this park is only accessible via aircraft, watercraft, and snowmobile. With no roads, campgrounds, or trails, Kobuk Valley is most suited for backcountry adventurers who know how to handle rugged conditions. As the park explains, “For visitors with the right skills and gear, it’s a trip of a lifetime.”
Tourists who aren’t ready to battle the elements can still enjoy Kobuk Valley, though. Local charter companies offer flightseeing tours over the park that give guests an aerial view of the region. Get a sneak peek at the sights you can see there in this stunning photo guide.
Fat Bear Week brings a lot of attention to Alaska’s stunning Katmai National Park and Preserve. While the region’s bears are incredibly loveable, they’re not the only wonders found within Katmai. This unique park offers a world of adventure for curious, outdoorsy visitors.
In addition to being an excellent place for spotting wildlife, Katmai also provides one-of-a-kind opportunities for backcountry sightseeing. The park encompasses 4 million acres of remote Alaskan wilderness, from frosty mountaintops to glittering lakes. Guests can turn their journey into a real outdoor retreat by staying at a local lodge or campsite. Get inspired to plan a trip to Alaska with this list of seven fascinating things to do at Katmai National Park and Preserve.
An odd-looking fish with blue flesh was caught recently in Alaska, but a transformation occurred when the fillets were cooked in a frying pan.
Alaska News Source on Thursday featured the recent catch of an odd-looking fish with bright-blue flesh. “Blue-fleshed rock greenling caught in Homer looks like a creature out of a Dr. Seuss book,” reads the headline.
Staying on theme, the author began:
“Alaska offers some of the most unique and diverse fishing there is. You could catch one fish, you could catch two fish, you can definitely catch a red fish — but did you know you could catch a blue fish?”
Blue rock greenling fillet. Photo: The Lodge at Otter Cove
Images of the blue greenling fillets were shared Aug. 30 by The Lodge at Otter Cove, which stated on Facebook:
“Went out fishing today and caught a rock greenling. The flesh is blue. It turns white when you cook it. Mother nature is incredible.”
Nearly 600 followers chimed in with expressions of astonishment.
Donald Arthur, a biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, told Alaska News Source that the blue coloration is caused by a bile pigment called Biliverdin, also found in lingcod.
Rock greenling range from the Bering Sea to Central California and are caught primarily near rocky reefs.
Rock greenling flesh turning white in a frying pan. Photo: The Lodge at Otter Cove
Their skin is greenish-brown, sometimes with bright red blotches.
States the Oregon Department of Wildlife: “The meat in rock greenling is always blue or green in color, but when cooked the meat will turn white.”
As if to prove this, The Lodge at Otter Cove pinned a video atop the comments section of its post, showing seasoned blue fillets turning white in a frying pan. (See image above.)
Would you consider this a delicacy? Perhaps not, but the cooked white flesh of rock greenling is said to be flaky and mild.
Footage captured this week on Alaska’s Brooks River shows why a famous brown bear has earned the nickname “Shower Bear.”
Fans of the Exlore.org Bear Cams that feature brown bears feeding in Alaska’s Brooks River are celebrating the return of Bear 164, aka Bucky Dent or Shower Bear.
The accompanying footage shows the adult male bear’s distinctive fishing method, which involves standing under the lip of Brooks Falls with his head submerged and watching for migrating salmon falling backward after failing to leap over the lip.
“Bear 164 – Shower Bear also known as Bucky Dent has returned to Brooks!” Explore.org. announced Thursday via social media.
Brooks River, in Katmai National Park, is home to the stars of Fat Bear Week, a fan-driven competition conducted each fall to celebrate the bears’ success in fattening up in advance of the winter hibernation season.
Bear 164 is nicknamed Bucky Dent – after the former Major League Baseball star – because of the dark, vertical indentation on his upper snout, or muzzle.
It’s not clear if he’s shown catching a fish in the accompanying clip, because he’s mostly submerged, but he apparently was successful Wednesday night.
Reads one comment: “His technique pays off for sure! Was cracking up last night when he was catching them back to back.”
Otis the beloved Brooks River brown bear has finally started to put on weight, much to the relief of fans. His latest spree: 100 salmon in 3 days.
The most famous brown bear on Alaska’s Brooks River has many concerned because he’s old and has appeared gaunt and arthritic since his tardy emergence from hibernation.
But on Tuesday the folks at Explore.org, which maintains live-feed cameras on the Brooks River, happily reported that the bear, named Otis, “has eaten over 100 [pounds] of salmon in last 36 hours. He has been fishing nonstop!”
It’s wonderful news for his followers, of course, but also for a bear that is 27 years old (the upper end of a brown bear’s life cycle) and must compete with younger, more vigorous bears that battle for prime fishing spots on the river.
Otis 100! It is believed Otis has eaten over 100lbs of Salmon in last 36 hours. He has been fishing non-stop! pic.twitter.com/bJw2AjvSZv
“Now I can tell he is better,” one follower commented. “The ribs and bones that were sticking out are smoothing out…. Keep on dear OTIS.”
Another comment: “He needs all the calories he can get. He has to catch up to 747 and the other big boys.”
That’s a reference to a true giant cataloged as Bear 747, aka Bear Force One.
Otis and 747 are perennial finalists in Fat Bear Week, a fan-driven competition held each fall as a celebration of the bears’ success after another feeding season.
But only Otis, a four-time Fat Bear Week champion, is referred to as the king, or King Otis.
To put Otis’ 36-hour feeding spree into perspective, the largest and most dominant bears on the river might consume as many as 100 pounds of salmon per day.
Another: “Poor mom looks really stressed out from this one. All that huffing. And the way she keeps looking at the bear who just happened to be closest.”
Mom is cataloged as Bear 402. She’s one of dozens of brown bears that spend the summer feeding in the Brooks River in Katmai National Park.
Brooks Falls is one of the prime fishing spots and dominant bears position themselves atop or just below the falls to catch migrating sockeye salmon.
Explore.org has live-feed cameras positioned on the river so the public can watch the bears feed and interact.
Brown bears in Katmai National Park are among the largest bears on the planet, with some exceeding 1,000 pounds by season’s end. (Larger bears might eat as many as 40 salmon per day.)
The bears are the stars of Fat Bear Week, a fan-driven competition conducted each fall to determine which bear took the fullest advantage of feeding season.
The reigning champion is Bear 747, aka Bear Force One.
Fans of the world-famous brown bears on Alaska’s Brooks River are breathing a sigh of relief as their beloved Otis is alive and seemingly well.
Fans of the world-famous brown bears on Alaska’s Brooks River are breathing a sigh of relief as their beloved Otis is alive and seemingly well.
“REJOICE!! KING OTIS HAS RETURNED!” Explore.org, which maintains live camera feeds on the river, exclaimed Wednesday after Otis appeared on camera for the first time since last fall.
Otis is an older bear and arguably the most famous brown bear on the planet, a four-time Fat Bear Week champion, known for his fishing exploits at his favorite spot, “the office” at Brooks Falls.
Because of his age – late 20s, well past normal longevity – and his tardiness this summer, fans had become concerned about his well-being.
But on Wednesday, Otis, looking a bit scraggly after what appears to have been a marathon hibernation, was spotted fishing (and catching) as though it were just another day.
“My kind of bear… sleeps late, keeps everyone guessing, makes a grand entrance,” reads a comment beneath a Katmai National Park – Brooks Falls Facebook post.
The Brooks River is in Katmai National Park. Brown bears arrive on the river when sockeye salmon begin running upstream in late June.
Most of the popular bruins, including reigning Fat Bear Week champion Bear 747, aka Bear Force One, have been spotted routinely during the past several weeks.
Some have new cubs, born during hibernation. Larger bears have battled over fishing rights. Bear antics have been showcased daily on camera feeds watched by thousands.
But for many, thoughts were on Otis. Was this going to be the year he did not make it back to the river? Would he be seen again?
Now Otis aficionados are already taking about his chances of claiming a fifth Fat Bear Week title.
“He looked worse two years ago and won fat bear,” one commenter correctly observed.
Stated another: “Since he’s very old, just the fact he’s back is fantastic! Give him time. He’s a zen master when fishing. Expending as little energy possible and reaping the benefits.”
Fat Bear Week, a fan-driven competition held each October, is billed as a celebration of the bears’ success in fattening up in preparation for another long, harsh winter.
The owner of an Alaska charter-fishing company has captured graphic footage showing four dogs fighting a brown bear outside a residence.
The owner of an Alaska charter-fishing company has captured graphic footage showing four dogs fighting a brown bear outside a residence.
“Intense moment from a couple weeks back,” Kenai River and Company stated Sunday via Instagram. “No dogs or bears were harmed in the making of this video.”
Mike Evans, who owns the company, told FTW Outdoors that the bear was a repeat visitor and that on this day it was attempting to crash a barbecue.
Beneath a post by Bestial Nature, followers expressed sympathy for the dogs and bear.
“End of the day, private property or not, a bear is doing what bears do,” one follower wrote. “They were there long before humans.”
Others noted that the dogs were fortunate to have emerged without serious injuries inflicted by the much larger bear.
Bestial Nature’s Instagram description reads, in part:
“I don’t think there’s a dog lover in the world that can watch this video and not feel a sinking feeling of dread deep in their gut, knowing that if that bear gets a good bite or swipe in, that it will definitely be over.”
