THE BOSS OF BANFF
He’s been hit by a train. Fathered 70% of the grizzlies in the park. He eats black bears for sport. Five hundred pounds of legend, and he doesn’t even know he’s famous.
I’ll never forget the first time I finally saw a grizzly bear in the wild. You read about them. See the photos on Instagram. But you’re never fully prepared for the true size, power and grandeur of a wild grizzly.
And the Boss isn’t just any old grizzly! He’s a true living legend…
The Boss. Bear 122. One of Banff’s most recognizable grizzlies.
Field Notes from the Photographer
I’ve been fortunate enough to encounter this remarkable creature several times over the years. It is a blessing to share them here with you.
Few animals have captured the hearts of Canadians quite like Grizzly Bear 122, known throughout Banff National Park as The Boss. Every encounter with this legendary grizzly is a reminder that some of Canada’s greatest treasures are found in its wild places.
The Boss has become an icon of the Canadian wilderness, representing the strength, beauty, and spirit of the Rocky Mountains. It is always an honour to witness and photograph such an incredible bear in his natural home.
For many who experience Banff’s wild places, The Boss has become more than a grizzly bear. He has become a symbol of the untamed spirit and timeless beauty that make this landscape so special.
Image taken summer of 2026.
The Soul of Banff
You Know Him When You See Him
The Boss has a face that is difficult to forget.
He’s enormous, even by grizzly standards, with the powerful shoulders and distinctive profile of a mature male.
But the easiest way to recognize him is the chunk missing from his right ear.
Over the years, I’ve watched him accumulate scars and signs of the life he’s lived.
“When he rolls into town, the wildlife specialists practically roll out the red carpet. Blocking traffic with their vehicles so that he can safely cross.”
— Steve McLaughlin, Wildlife Photographer
The Boss in Blooms – Explore Print Options →
The Boss in the Snow
One November morning, I found The Boss’s tracks before daylight.
His footprints were enormous.
Several hours later, and roughly three kilometres away, I spotted him again.
He was looking every bit as healthy and powerful as ever.
With two new battle scars below his eye, he still reigns as the legendary king of Banff National Park.
At this time of year, he could have been approaching 650 pounds.
One of those photographs that reminds you just how massive this animal really is.
White Claws on Iron Tracks
The Boss has been known to travel enormous distances, cross roads and railway tracks, chase other predators away from food, and generally behave as though the entire landscape belongs to him. Maybe it does.
He’s even survived being hit by a train. Remarkably, this has taught him to vacate the tracks when he hears the train whistle.
I’ve watched him walk along the railway tracks, those enormous claws visible beneath his paws, until the sound of the approaching train sends him lumbering safely away.
The Boss and the Butterfly
For all his reputation, his size, his scars and his rather impressive history… The Boss occasionally has moments of unexpected softness.
One spring morning, while feeding in a field of dandelions, he noticed a butterfly. For a few seconds, the enormous grizzly stopped what he was doing and watched it.
A 500-pound predator, completely distracted by a butterfly. Sometimes we’re lucky enough to witness a quieter side of one of Banff’s most fearsome grizzlies.
View The Boss and the Butterfly →
The First Encounter
My first memorable encounter with The Boss came on April 4, 2022.
He was feeding on a small deer carcass, and I was fortunate enough to watch him over the course of two days.
The Boss wasn’t interested in putting on a show for anyone. He was just doing what bears do.
He would bury the carcass beneath sticks and snow, then settle down on top of it to guard his meal. Nearby wolves were waiting patiently for their opportunity.
I stayed well back and watched with my telephoto lens.
Eventually, The Boss stepped out from the trees and into the sunlight. For just a moment, the light caught his face perfectly.
That became one of my favourite photographs of him.
Fine Art Prints of The Boss
Bring one of Banff’s most recognizable grizzlies into your home.
Our photographs of The Boss are available as premium lustre paper, canvas, and metal prints in a range of sizes.
Each print is professionally produced in Canada and carefully made to showcase the detail and character captured in Steve’s original photograph.
A Note From the Photographer
Wildlife photography is a pursuit in patience. You can spend hours waiting and come home with nothing.
Sometimes, an animal steps into the right patch of light for just a few seconds. Those are the moments I strive to capture for you, so you can experience the beauty and the majesty of these animals too.
I hope you enjoy these images of The Boss as much as I have enjoyed creating them over the years.
Steve McLaughlin
Wildlife & Landscape Photographer