Bears are solitary animals, and try to keep away from each other as far as possible. Coming closer than a few kilometers to another bear is usually way too close! But during the salmon run the normal social prohibitions have to go away. And they do - but not completely so...
We don't yet see another bear walking up the river, but we are already read about him... in body language of the first bear. Sudden stop, tense posture, quick nervous look along the river - danger!
And - immediately back to fishing. Only fishing is now a lot more diligent, than before! Head is well-visibly down, eyes are carefully fixated on something caught in the claws, wide butt slowly but surely turns to the newcomer with every small step... The whole body language shouts "I am busy with my little deeds, I am totally immersed in them, and not interested in anything else or anyone else, and I am not going to notice whatever is going to happen nearby!"
The carefully-tense posture of the second bear is no less telling. "I am slowly walking along the bank, minding my own business, I am not noticing anything around me, I am not even looking around... look straight ahead... even a little to the other side, to be sure!"
And, at first opportunity - to turn back on the opponent. To avoid even a small chance of eye contact! Eye to eye contact means challenge - and few thing in the nature world can match the violence of vicious bear fight!
And, through the whole encounter, the active side cannot change the pace of walking. Even if the feet themselves do not want to carry you to the danger or urge to rush away from it! Rushing to the opponent will be immediately interpreted as attack! And after walking by, excessive rush away will be read as weakness, and may trigger a pursuit...
Danger is over! Tension visibly leaves the huge bear , as he can return to his own business - this time truly, without showing it off!
Page 5: Bear Diplomacy
Стр. 5: Медвежья дипломатия