© 2014 Wild Brown Bear Centre
Moving through into autumn, the surrounding wetland and foliage will begin to show its fall livery. The leaves hanging on the deciduous trees will start to turn a rich reddish-brown, as will the low lying grasses and shrubbery. The pine needles of the evergreens will de-saturate from their summer green and the whole area at Wild Brown Bear will reflect the even richer sunlight of Autumn. This new season will create the perfect backdrop for you to witness the predators in their natural environment.
Coming to the end of August, the daylight hours begin to decrease further and the days are shorter. The bears will now begin to take on fat and will increase in both size and weight, preparing for the long and hard winter ahead of them in hibernation. The colder night-time air temperature will create ground mist more frequently and this will add dramatic character to the landscape and your images.
The autumnal colours are not an exact science, however, in recent years, late August till the end of September has shown the colours most vividly in the surrounding landscape. The scenery turns more and more colourful into September and once again Wild Brown Bear Centre shows another side of the seasons. At this time the bears are gaining weight for winter hibernation, and are at their largest during the Autumnal months, they also have very thick coats which add to their size and can alter their colouring.
At the beginning of August the foliage remains lush and green, with sunrise and sunset giving excellent light with which to make images. As the month extends the bears will stay longer near the hides due to needing additional nourishment for the tough winter ahead of them.
Autumn is the best time to observe and photograph first year cubs. After being with their mothers over the summer, they are brought into the area for the first time. The cubs are particularly playful and inquisitive and this behaviour makes for some excellent photographic opportunities.
Male bears are still prevalent in the area which increases the risk dramatically for the cubs. They are often kept near trees and dense foliage by their mothers in case of an emergency. Due to the presence of the male predators the cubs frequently climb trees in the area.
