The fat bears are back, with some enticing plot lines

In anticipation of catching 4,500-calorie fish and chomping on their brains, skin, and vivid red flesh, the fat bears have started their return to the Brooks River in Alaska's Katmai National Park and Preserve. On Monday, wildlife webcam operators explore.org turned on the Brooks River cameras (aka "bear cams"), allowing people globally to stream the bears throughout the summer and into the early fall. Over the next few months, the bears will grow impressively fat in preparation for the harsh winter famine, when they hibernate. Bear activity at the river usually ramps up in early July when sockeye salmon journey upstream and attempt to leap over the Brooks River waterfall. Unfortunately for the fish, bears await as the salmon pool beneath this natural obstacle. Read more...More about Science, Animals, Bears, Bear Cam, and Science