Explore.org’s Brooks River live cam in Katmai National Park captured Bear 806 killing and feeding on a cub that belonged to 10-year-old Bear 909. The episode lasted about 20 minutes before the carcass was buried. Park staff say abundant salmon makes hunger an unlikely motive and suggest the cub’s movement may have triggered a predatory response. Officials held a public discussion afterward and reiterated safety advice for visitors: do not run if you encounter a bear.
Brooks River Live Cam Captures Bear 806 Killing and Feeding on Another Female’s Cub
Photo Credit: iStock
Viewers of the Explore.org live cam at Brooks River in Katmai National Park witnessed a disturbing encounter this week when an adult brown bear, identified as Bear 806, chased down and killed a young cub that did not belong to her.
Park staff say the victim was a spring cub of 10-year-old Bear 909, whose other cub had already been lost earlier in the season. The footage was recorded Tuesday morning and shows Bear 806 feeding on the cub for roughly 20 minutes before burying the carcass.
Two of Bear 806’s cubs were present during the incident: Biggie, an adopted cub estimated at about 2.5 years old, and another cub of roughly 1.5 years. Staff reported these bears had been interacting with the victim shortly before the attack.
Experts Weigh In
Park biologists and the resident naturalist noted that adult female bears sometimes commit infanticide. Resident naturalist Mike Fitz emphasized that "we can be absolutely certain that this is not a case of sexually selected infanticide," indicating motives other than male reproductive strategy.
Because salmon are abundant in Brooks River right now, staff said hunger is an unlikely explanation. Instead, experts suggested that the cub’s movement may have triggered a predatory response from Bear 806.
Aftermath and Public Discussion
Explore.org and park staff held a public live chat after the footage aired to address questions and confirm details. One point of uncertainty discussed was a later sighting of another bear dragging the cub’s body; Fitz said he could not confirm whether that bear was Bear 909. Park staff later observed Bear 909 nearby, chasing other bears away from the area.
“We tell folks when they arrive at Brooks Camp: if you encounter a bear, do not run,” ranger Sarah Bruce said. “You should never run from a bear because although we see these bears doing all kinds of things, they are predators as well.”
Bruce also reflected on the role of remote cameras, saying the footage is a reminder that humans are part of the same wild planet and that such recordings let people witness behaviors that would otherwise go unseen.
The park continues to monitor bear behavior in the area and encourages visitors to follow posted safety guidelines when in bear country.
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