A livestream showing brown bears catching and eating salmon at a waterfall in Alaska has become an unexpected online hit this summer. The Brooks Falls bearcam at Katmai National Park has drawn millions of views as large numbers of bears gather around the rushing water.The livestream was watched 7.3 million times between June 22 and August 4, according to Explore, the wildlife network that runs the cameras. That was a 70% increase from the same period last year and more than twice the number of views recorded during the same period in 2024.The cameras show brown bears waiting around Brooks Falls as sockeye salmon travel upstream. The fish provide an important food source for the bears, which can be seen moving through the rocky water and catching salmon. At times, more than a dozen bears can be seen around the falls.The large gatherings appear to be one reason the livestream has attracted so much attention this year. Candice Rusch, from Explore says the bears were not gathered at the falls in such large numbers last year because salmon were spread throughout the river.“Last year was a really high salmon run, which meant there was salmon all over the river and the bears didn’t need to congregate at the falls the way they’re doing right now,” she said.This year, however, viewers have been getting clear views of large groups of bears feeding together. Rusch said the sudden rise in attention has made the livestream feel as if audiences around the world have discovered it at the same time.
The large gatherings appear to be one reason the livestream has attracted so much attention
How Bearcam became hit
Rusch said the increase in viewers could be linked to the number of bears returning to the falls. With many animals gathering in one place, there is more activity for people watching the cameras. “This year we’ve just had very good views of large congregations of bears,” she said.The livestream has also become something people can leave running in the background while they go about their daily routines. Rusch described the trend- “It’s like the whole world discovered they could put bearcam on their TV at the same time.” She added, “Maybe people just have it on while they’re cooking dinner.”The cameras were first installed in 2012. The aim was to bring wildlife from a remote location into people’s homes. Rusch said the idea was based on the belief that people may be more likely to care about and protect animals and natural areas when they become familiar with them.
Fans track individual bears
Regular viewers have even started to identify individual bears by features such as their ears, noses and body shape. Some fans also keep detailed records of how much the bears eat.One viewer reported watching a bear named Otis eat 42 salmon over several hours. Rusch said that amount of food could equal more than 100,000 calories. The bears’ intense feeding is linked to the way they prepare for the colder months. Their feeding will become even more closely watched when Katmai’s annual Fat Bear Week begins in the autumn.During Fat Bear Week, members of the public vote in a knockout-style competition to choose the park’s fattest bear. The bears put on weight before hibernation, making the seasonal feeding activity an important part of the spectacle followed by viewers.Dr Jeffrey Skibins, an associate professor at East Carolina University, said studies had found benefits from nature-based webcams for both people and wildlife.“Recent studies have shown that nature-based webcams are beneficial to both wildlife and people. They benefit wildlife by improving conservation attitudes, behaviours and awareness,” he said.
