In August 2004 I was Incredibly lucky and drew a permit to visit one of the most unique wildlife experiences on the planet...a permit to visit McNeil River in Alaska. For about 30 years under the direction of Larry Aumiller, the McNeil River Sanctuary has allowed biologists and a few select visitors each year to witness the large gatherings of Coastal Alaskan Brown Bears fishing for salmon. larry has known several generations of these bears and can point out who's who. Visitors and the biologists sit at designated spots as the bears do their thing all around you...even as close as 20 feet away ! These bears are people 'neutral", meaning they are used to seeing people in these spots and basically go about their lives indifferent toward them. Never has their been an attack on a person at McNeil since the inception of the program.
unfortunately as is common in Alaska, the weather during my visit was dreary rainy and aweful which made for very poor photographic conditions...and this was also before I went digital and did not have the professional gear that I use now. I guess that means I gotta back someday...IF I can draw another permit !!