Permits to visit Anan Wildlife Observatory near Wrangell will go on sale at 8 a.m. Feb. 1 for the summer 2018 season, the U.S. Forest Service has announced.
Anan, accessible only by floatplane or boat, is one of the top bear-viewing sites in Southeast Alaska. Black bears and brown bears frequently mingle as they catch salmon in Anan Creek. To control the number of tourists visiting the site, the Forest Service requires visitors to have a permit if they visit between July 5 and Aug. 25, the peak of the bear-viewing season.
Those who visit the site outside that window do not need a permit.
Permits are $10, plus a $10 reservation fee. Visit www.recreation.gov or call 1-877-444-6777 to order a permit. The number of permits available each day is strictly limited.
Four permits per day will also be available at the Wrangell District Office in Wrangell on a lottery basis.
