Black Bear Turns Bald Eagle Nest Into a Cozy Bed — Drawn by the “Smelly” Scent of Leftover Fish

High above the forests of Anchorage, Alaska, a wildlife biologist made a discovery that left him momentarily speechless — a black bear fast asleep in a bald eagle’s nest.

Biologist Steve Lewis, who works with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, was conducting an aerial survey of eagle nests over Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson when he spotted something unusual nestled in one of the massive treetop homes.

“At first, my mind was trying to make it into a baby eagle … perhaps with its wings spread,” Lewis said. “Then I realized it was a small bear sleeping there.”

The discovery was as puzzling as it was adorable — and revealed just how creative wild animals can be when searching for safety and comfort.

A Bear in a Bird’s Home

The nest, measuring roughly six feet across, sat high in a cottonwood tree. Normally, such nests are home to majestic bald eagles raising their young. But on this day, the nest’s only resident was a drowsy black bear curled up like a giant cat, resting in the tangled twigs and branches.

There were no eagles in sight. Lewis said the bear likely found its way up there after the nest had failed earlier in the spring.

“A bald eagle was seen incubating an egg earlier this year,” Lewis explained. “But when we returned a week later, the egg was alone, and both parents were nearby. That’s when I suspected the nest had failed.”

With no chicks to care for and no eagle parents guarding it, the abandoned nest had become prime real estate for a wandering bear.

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Why the Bear Moved In

There are a few possible explanations for this unusual behavior — and they all make perfect sense in the wild.

Lewis suggested that the bear was drawn by the nest’s “smelly” scent. Bald eagles are known for bringing fish, salmon, and other prey to feed their chicks. When eaglets grow older, parents sometimes leave food behind in the nest for them to eat — but not all of it gets consumed.

“Often that food isn’t entirely eaten and ends up getting stomped into the nest or lying on the side and rotting,” Lewis said.

That leftover food, though unpleasant to humans, can be irresistible to a hungry bear.

But food wasn’t the only possible motivation. Lewis noted that the bear could have also climbed into the tree to seek safety.

“Brown bears are common in the area,” he said, “and a small black bear might head up a tree to stay out of danger.”

A Comfortable and Clever Hideout

Black bears are surprisingly agile climbers. In spring, they often scale tall cottonwood trees to snack on the sticky, sweet buds that grow at the top.

“This leads me to think that these bears are used to being up in the trees at other times,” Lewis explained.

So while it’s rare to see a bear in an eagle’s nest, the idea of one lounging in a high branch isn’t so strange after all.

And with a wide, soft nest conveniently shaped like a bowl, it’s easy to see why this sleepy bear decided it was the perfect place to rest.

Nature’s Unlikely Roommates

While the sight of a bear napping in a bald eagle’s nest may seem bizarre, it’s actually another fascinating example of how wildlife adapts to its environment.

Animals often take advantage of structures built by others — from owls nesting in woodpecker holes to foxes sheltering in old badger dens. This bear simply happened to find one of the most luxurious beds in the forest.

Still, Lewis and other biologists note that such encounters can have ecological impacts. In some cases, bears climbing to or raiding eagle nests can cause nesting failures — though it’s unclear how frequently this happens.

“In the past, we’ve seen bears cause eagle nests to fail,” Lewis said. “But we don’t know how common that behavior is.”

A Rare Glimpse into Wild Ingenuity

Lewis’s aerial photo of the bear nestled comfortably among branches has since sparked widespread curiosity. Wildlife enthusiasts around the world have been fascinated by the unique image — part humor, part wonder, and a reminder of how resourceful animals can be when adapting to nature’s challenges.

Whether the bear was searching for food, safety, or just a soft place to nap, one thing is certain — it found an ingenious solution high above the forest floor.

Final Thoughts

Nature never stops surprising us. In this case, one small black bear turned an eagle’s failed nest into a cozy hideaway, showing just how fluid and creative life in the wild can be.

“You think you’ve seen everything,” Lewis reflected, “and then you find a bear sleeping in an eagle’s nest.”

Sometimes, even in the wildest corners of the world, comfort is where you make it.