A mother black bear rises to her full height among lupine blooms and young spruce trees. She surveys the area with a brief, deliberate scan, attentive to any movement or disturbance. This behavior allows her to assess safety before continuing to forage or move her cub through the area. This may appear to be an aggressive posture, but it is much more benign—she simply needs to be able to see beyond all of the vegetation. Bears are very efficient critters and don’t waste precious energy on unnecessary actions. Photographer: Sean Neilson