Gorging on bearcam: the livestream of big beasts eating that draws millions
A livestream of brown bears catching salmon at Katmai National Park in Alaska has seen a massive surge in viewership this summer. The 'bearcam' project aims to connect the public with remote wildlife to encourage conservation efforts.
Why it matters
The popularity of the livestream demonstrates the growing public interest in nature-based digital content and its potential to drive environmental awareness.
Brown bears at Katmai national park The age of extinction Animals Gorging on bearcam: the livestream of big beasts eating that draws millions Ahead of Fat Bear Week, avid fans are glued to the spectacle of brown bears devouring salmon at Brooks Falls in Alaska
About this content Matthew Pearce Sun 16 Aug 2026 02.00 EDT Last modified on Sun 16 Aug 2026 02.01 EDT Share Prefer the Guardian on Google One of this summer’s biggest onscreen hits has had big beasts, great escapes and choppy waters, but it’s not Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey – it’s a livestream of Alaskan brown bears catching salmon.
The Brooks Falls bearcam at Katmai national park in the US was watched 7.3m times between 22 June and 4 August – up 70% from the same period last year and more than double the views it attracted in 2024.
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