While jet boating in Hells Canyon recently we rounded a bend in the river and came across a black bear swimming form the ID side to the OR side. These are the photos we got. Enjoy.

http://picasaweb.google.com/hunter7057/BlackBear#

Strong swimmer, beautiful color. thanks.

We catch bear in the Yukon too. My oldest boy had his license to fish guide quite a few years back. With all the fish, bears came in from hundred miles away. So the tourists always wanted to see the grizz and the boy would take them in close when the bears were in deep water. He'd circle them in a small boat, bears would be yappin their jaws, tourists would be screaming at the boy enough was enough; but it was all they talked about back at the lodge, ha. The boy said it was safe in deep water but never do it in shallow water. He had all kinds of picts, looked quite hilarious.