Yes all females around a male at this time of the year. Male would fight with other males around, either to defend his harem or steal it from the alpha male.
I didn't know this, Michel. There was one buck and 12 does. He was magnificent. I spotted him in a really narrow window of vision, and wasn't sure if I had seen what I thought I saw......but as we rounded a bend, there was the rest of the herd. He eventually got up and joined the ladies. We watched for quite a while. It was only 2 minutes after we carried on, that we saw the bear.
Thanks SD.....good to be home.
Hubby and I have just made a pact to get our selves back to Banff before too long. We were both in awe.