A black bear pops out of a stand of red-barked madrones on the opposite slope. The bear looks at the humans. Happy campers shudder momentarily at the thought and wonder if the bear will appear in camp after dark. Perhaps the bears are nearly as well fed as the people on the Rogue. They seldom pay visitors much attention, preferring to saunter down toward shore where willows and alders shimmer in the breeze or to frighten deer out of a thicket.
Abundant wildlife is a predictable highlight of days on the river.
In early summer, ospreys dive and come up with fish to carry to nestlings bickering in the tops of tall snags. Some evenings river otter families entertain their guests with humorous antics. Life along the water seems peaceful and wonderfully simple. The river is friendly, spiced with a few very exciting spots. During the summer, the Rogue typically flows at a modest 2500 cubic feet per minute.