At Alaska's Anan Creek, extremely chill bear named Paul wins dude-approved award for patience

Paul’s patient approach

Paul is known for fishing in Anan Creek, in southeastern Alaska. When other bears take his catch, he does not spend energy fighting them; he keeps fishing instead.

The Forest Service team says Paul’s calm manner recalls The Dude, the character played by Jeff Bridges in the 1998 film The Big Lebowski. The character’s catchphrase, “The Dude abides,” inspired the award, the team said.

Paul has two thin lines on his chest and a scar on his left ear. He also received the award for pickiest bear in 2024.

Awards at Anan Creek

The Tongass National Forest team is presenting Anan Bear Awards to 39 bears seen at the Anan Wildlife Observatory. Friends of Anan says the group includes 31 black bears and eight brown bears.

A salmon-rich forest

Anan Creek is known for one of the largest pink salmon runs in Southeast Alaska. With abundant fish available, defending every catch may not be worth the effort for a bear like Paul.

Tongass is the nation’s largest national forest and covers most of Southeast Alaska, including Juneau. The area includes hiking trails, eagles, bears and Mendenhall Glacier, a destination for Alaskan cruises.