Possession is nine tenths of the paw! Cheeky bear takes a beating after trying to steal rival's salmon

  • Fight between the two brown bears was captured on camera by Tin Man Lee
  • Enormous bears wrestled over the salmon in Katmai National Park, Alaska

By Daily Mail Reporter

PUBLISHED: 12:28 EST, 19 November 2013 | UPDATED: 12:44 EST, 19 November 2013


These Alaskan brown bears were clearly not in the mood to share their dinner.

The pair got into a vicious fight over fishing rights in the river when one managed to catch a salmon, while the other was left empty handed.

But rather than try to catch its own food, the bear tried to steal the fish straight from its rival's jaws.

Face-off: The two bears stand on their hind legs as they square up to one another over the salmon

Face-off: The two bears stand on their hind legs as they square up to one another over the salmon

Fighting pose: The defending bear continues to hold the fish tightly in its teeth as it stares at the aggressor

Fighting pose: The defending bear continues to hold the fish tightly in its teeth as it stares at the aggressor

Give it to me! The brown bear lunges at the freshly caught salmon in the river in Alaska

Give it to me! The brown bear lunges at the freshly caught salmon in the river in Alaska

But the defending bear would not give its snack away quite so easily and the two began to fight over the fresh water fish.

 

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The confrontation was spotted in Katmai National Park, Alaska, by American photographer Tin Man Lee.

The 36-year-old said the battle was especially fierce as the two bears were of equal size.

The pair were pictured sizing each other up as they stood on their hind legs before the wrestling in the water and hitting each other with their giant paws.

Mr Lee said: 'The two bears seemed ready to fight ferociously for rights to the fish.

Powerful: The two bears show their brute strength as they scrap over the salmon

Powerful: The two bears show their brute strength as they scrap over the salmon

Grapple: Photographer Tin Man Lee said the confrontation was compelling because the two bears were equally matched

Grapple: Photographer Tin Man Lee said the confrontation was compelling because the two bears were equally matched

Victor: The defending bear managed to hold off the attack and keep the salmon it had caught

Victor: The defending bear managed to hold off the attack and keep the salmon it had caught

'When they fought it was a stunning scene, it didn't last very long but it felt like it lasted much longer.

'One thing I have learned about bear behaviour is that they only fight with similar sized bears, if there is a clear size difference, the smaller one always surrenders and flees the scene.

'This was an especially interesting moment as they were almost equal but inevitably one of the bears had to surrender and leave without a salmon.'

Alaska is home to all three species of American bear - the brown, black and polar bears.

The state contains about 98 per cent of the U.S. brown bear population with an estimated 30,000 individuals.

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i bet the poor old salmon was thinking hurry up and put me out of my??????????

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crime just does not pay ¿¿

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These bears are more than likely part of the McNeil River Bear Refuge/Sanctuary which is located with the Katmai Preserve. People get on a lottery to go to the Preserve and watch these bears during the salmon runs. They pay big bucks too. Katmai is on the western side of Cook Inlet many many miles away from Anchorage and the only way to get there is by float plane or boat. Have seen some amazing pictures through the years of these bears. And there is also a live cam in certain areas so you can watch them. The National Parks has control of the cams, I think.

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For those who remember the old advert - "Oh look - there's an eagle"! With all due acknowledgements.

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Peter Kay - mentioned it earlier.

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Don't you just hate that.....you've sat there patiently for hours and then someone comes and sets up in the swim next to you and starts catching all the fish in your swim...I'd thump him, too!

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Pinkish salmon firmly held, not in its glass jaw, ~~ Forelegs ready for blows, stood on hind legs; ~~ Yes, possession is nine-tenths of the law! ~~ Oh, everyone agrees- sure as eggs is eggs. ~~ // Both churned the shallow water up in ire; ~~ It is not up for grabs, if the fish is in the jaws: ~~ The marauder has no option than to retire ~~ And keep on the ground all its padded paws. ~~ //

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I stopped off at Anchorage, in Alaska, many years ago, en route to Hawaii, but unfortunately, didn't get to leave the airport!

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I'll say it again, do not steal a bear's salmon.

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Like the Peter Kay advert for the beer on You Tube....well worth a watch.

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Wow, great pictures. That one bear is just not going to give up his salmon, is he? I love salmon too, not sure I would fight that hard to keep it though.

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