There is a story behind this lovely girl.
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She and her litter brother lost their mom between the time they went into their first Winter hibernation as Spring Cubs and the following Spring.
Because they were motherless, odds of their survival were very slim. Mortality rate of Grizzly Bear cubs is very high; even when they do have a mother to protect and teach them.

Nevertheless against all odds, both cubs amazingly survived their first winter without their mom. They also learned to totally fend for themselves in the Spring as yearlings. However, they separated. The little boy became elusive and stayed away from both people and all other bears. The little girl, however, saw people as her protecters. Although totally wild and not having any true interaction with people - like receiving food or hand outs - she learned that living close to humans kept her somewhat "safe" from other bears. Most adult male Griz (a big danger to all cubs) will generally try to avoid people.

Always on the alert - as seen in this photo - the girl was constantly very nervous. She was forever on guard. This is probably what helped her to survive on her own. Meanwhile, she would frequently come extremely close to people as if she were one of us... On more than one occasion, she got so close that I was able to frame a head portrait of her with a wide angle lens. When she meandered that close, I had to back off. Sweet as she seemed, she was still a Wild Grizzly Bear.

The true test now will be if she can survive this winter: her second. This winter will now be without even her brother. I'm very hopeful and will be looking for both of them when I return to Alaska next Summer.

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