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A quantitative study of the behavior of brown bears (Ursus arctos) was undertaken at Brooks River in Katmai National Park and Preserve 1988-90 to determine whether human activity affected use of the area by females with young. Over the 3 fall seasons 862 hours of systematic observations were recorded or not (late Aug through mid-Oct salmon spawning period). Ten different females with young were observed, 4 of them over a complete reproductive cycle. Each female was classified according to human tolerance as 'habituated' (n = 5), or 'nonhabituated' (n = 5). The seasonal patterns of family group activity were examined according to habituation class. There was a direct relationship between the distribution of river use by nonhabituated family groups and proximity to Brooks Camp, while no relationship was found for habituated family groups. Use of areas by nonhabituated families increased near Brooks Camp late in the season, when human activity and noise in camp decreased. Availability of fish for bears was highest in areas near camp; however, nonhabituated females with young used these areas significantly less than habituated families.