Salmon have an incredibly important role in British Columbia’s ecosystem. They are a critical food source for marine mammals such as Orcas, seals, and sea lions. As they head up rivers to spawn each year, they also become a critical food source for terrestrial animals, including bears, wolves, eagles, and so much more. Their journey doesn’t stop in the streams; many of these predators will carry the salmon into the forest to eat, where any remains fertilize the forest floor and fuel the growth of plants and trees. From many thousands of years before this land was known as “British Columbia”, salmon have also been (and still are) incredibly important to Indigenous peoples on the coast, and around river systems throughout the region. I photographed this Black Bear after a full day of waiting, as it fished in a stream on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada, snatching up a beautiful Pink Salmon. While many bears may wait hours for a successful salmon catch, this bear got lucky and caught this fish within minutes of arriving on the scene!