Brown bear rut 2026

Since I only fully immersed myself in photographing this species this season, I thought it wise to team up with someone more experienced. When it comes to bears, two are always better than one—and as an acquaintance of mine would say, with two people, it's always a 50/50 chance :D. Thanks to a contact hooked up by another mutual friend :), I managed to get into a group of people who are absolutely obsessed with bears. This allowed me to meet many new people and form friendships bound by the same passion. Thanks for all of that!The "warm-up," or the beginning, was slow to say the least. Aside from a year-over-year decline in the bear population in the area where I spent the most time, it didn't help that the bears were constantly and intentionally disturbed by a high number of people—not just photographers eager for a shot, but unfortunately, also hunters and locals themselves. They didn't hesitate to use invasive methods such as firecrackers, revving modified car exhausts, and using specialized acoustic scarers. And all of this happened in areas with an increased presence of the brown bear—right where the bear is simply at home. :/The first two weeks were poor, not only for photography but even for basic sightings. Luck was missing, though it could easily have been a matter of experience or even impatience—something I personally don't think I struggle with. Others were doing quite well, and the photos posted on their social media accounts indicated that the bear rut had begun and everything was going as expected.Paradoxically, I only found success when I built up the courage to go out looking for bears on my own. I don't know, maybe it's a mindset thing, maybe something else, but the fact remains that 90% of the photos published in this article or portfolio were taken during outings when there wasn't a soul insight and I was completely alone.It all started with a morning walk to the "bear meadow." Alone, in the dark, an hour before dawn, I quietly made my way to the spot from which I planned to shoot. As day was breaking, I unpacked my gear and prepared to shoot. Suddenly, I caught movement in my peripheral vision about 20-25 meters away. I raised my head and stared in disbelief at the silhouette of a truly massive male—the kind I had only ever seen in documentaries.

There was still very little light, and this "bear spirit," as old, massive males are often called, had no intention of sticking around. I managed to snap literally just a few candid shots, which respectfully remind me of the power and imposing appearance of this individual, whom was named "Fliačik" (Little Spot).

Another moment I would like to highlight took place on a mountain meadow, where a bear couple appeared and stayed for over half an hour. It gave me plenty of time and space to truly absorb the behavior of bears in rut within their natural habitat. After a while, once the pair vanished from sight, a massive male showed up, following their scent trail. He showed off in his full glory and "trotted" up to a distance where it was no longer safe for either of us. I made a sound to let him know I was there, and as is usually the case, the bear chose to retreat.After a brief check of the quality and sharpness of the photos I had just taken, I was caught off guard by the aforementioned couple. They suddenly returned and walked right under my nose... literally just a few meters away, past the small patch of woods where I was sitting. They passed the trees and continued their mating ritual about 30 meters from me. This left me somewhat trapped, as the couple was fully focused on each other right on the path that was my only way out. Eventually, I "spoke up" to these two as well. After a brief moment of hesitation—when the female wasn't sure which way to run and started heading in my direction—I had to speak up once more. By that time, she was about 15–20 meters away from me in the woods, and she clearly heard my voice and its direction, as she ran off without any major stress, disappearing into the brush with the male right where I had planned to make my exit. You can't make this stuff up! :)

The third top moment was an encounter with a young bear who came to show himself to me at the very end of the day, when I already had everything packed up and was heading home. I had just stepped away from the spot where I'd been sitting for over two hours, thinking that today was just not my day. Then, from a great distance, I noticed a massive silhouette heading right in my direction. The light was fading fast, so I decided to push my luck. I made my way toward him along the edge of the meadow and the woods until I got close enough. I quickly unpacked my gear and took a few extra steps forward to make it worth it. The bear must have felt the same way, because we met "halfway," about 15 meters apart. This young male, whose movements made him look truly massive from afar, allowed me to capture a beautiful series of shots. As he kept getting closer, I eventually had to speak up to him. I tell you, he didn't feel like leaving that lush, green grass at all—he tried to ignore my voice three times. In the end, though, I "convinced" him, and he took off at a brisk pace into the brush. A wonderful experience to wrap up what had otherwise been a boring day in the field.

I thoroughly enjoyed this year's bear rutting season. Looking back, I consider it above-average in terms of success, but also physically and mentally exhausting, especially given the fact that going out to photograph bears mostly on your own is no easy walk in the park. In my opinion, the photos clearly capture how it all unfolded, and I hope they inspire a positive perception of these magnificent, charismatic forest dwellers, who, for me, have an undeniable place in the animal kingdom—as well as here in Slovakia. And since I am someone who has loved actively chasing pure adrenaline my whole life, photographing the bear rut served that purpose perfectly. I'm incredibly grateful for that! :)