Split Lip - The Contender

Canadian Rocky Mountains

I experienced an exhilarating moment with the leaner, meaner rival to The Boss: Split Lip, the grizzly distinguished by a torn lip that gives him a permanent snarl. His unique feature was bestowed on him by none other than The Boss in an intense fight. But where The Boss rules with weight, Split Lip competes with grit. He is a survivor and a scrapper – the main contender to usurp The Boss’ dominance.  

It was late afternoon in the fall, with ideal light for photography, when I encountered Split Lip. He was foraging for the berries that had once blanketed the valley over the summer. Now, only a few remained, and he was finding every last one. As bears get ready for hibernation, they need to gain weight, and berries are one of their favourite and richest foods. A grizzly can eat up to 200,000 berries in a day, and Split Lip had obviously been feasting at that level, given his size. Even so, compared to The Boss, Split Lip is much taller and leaner, with a solid frame. He is a younger bear,  with teeth showing less wear. A small ear tag on his left side (thankfully hidden in this image) displays his Parks Canada designation as Bear #136.

It will be interesting to see where this contender lands as the rivalry between him and The Boss unfolds over the next years. Their territories are increasingly overlapping, suggesting that Split Lip is becoming more confident in his ability to achieve dominance.

Limited Edition 8" x 10" and larger to 900

Conservation Edition 30” x 40” to 50