Waterfall Turns Brooks River into a Bear Buffet

A 6-foot waterfall at Brooks River in Alaska is described as turning the salmon run into a “bear buffet” during peak months from late June to late October. The attraction, associated with Katmai National Park and Preserve, draws brown bears that stay in the area in large numbers while salmon migrate upstream to spawning grounds. The article explains that the falls create a barrier for the fish, causing schools to gather beneath Brooks Falls before attempting the leap, while bears wait to catch them. It says some bears enter the pool below the waterfall, and others station themselves at the top, scanning the rushing water for prey. After catching salmon, bears are said to eat energy-rich parts first—such as skin, brain, and roe—possibly to prepare for winter. The phenomenon has been a tourist draw since the 1950s, and the piece promotes watching via an Explore livestream.