The fat bears of Katmai National Park and Preserve may get the Washington Post stories, but this year they won’t get all the attention.
Throughout the first week of October, Tongass National Forest is set to host its first-ever Anan Bear Awards, a celebration of the black and brown bears that call the Anan Wildlife Observatory home akin to Katmai National Park and Preserve’s famous Fat Bear Week. Officials and park rangers have compiled a list of nine awards set to be granted to some of the most stand-out bears of this summer season photographed or videoed by park rangers.
[Fall means rise in bear activity]
“We hope people enjoy the great videos of bears fishing out there and climbing trees and being extremely photogenic,” said. Paul Robbins, U.S. Forest Service Public Affairs Officer
Robbins said people can expect to see the awards posted on the Tongass National Forest social media accounts throughout this week, and said there will also be a ton of other bear content to also hit the platforms along with the awards.
The Anan Wildlife Observatory, located a few dozen miles southeast of Wrangell, is known best for its high density of black and brown bears that flock to the area to enjoy the large runs of pink salmon that make their way through Anan Creek each year. Robbins said that inspiration from Katmai National Park and Preserve’s annual Fat Bear Week is what inspired Tongass National Forest to create its own bear celebration in Southeast Alaska.
He said people can expect to see content roll out Monday evening, and scatter throughout the rest of the week with posts near lunchtime and in the evenings. Though this year is the first time trying out the Anan Bear Awards celebration, Robbins said he’d like to make it a yearly tradition, but said it hinges on how much response they get from the public through this week.
“We’re glad our rangers are able to capture these images to the public who aren’t able to make it to what is arguably the greatest wildlife observatory in the country,” he said.
He said he hopes the celebration will give people a reason to smile, while also reminding them to be bear aware as Southeast Alaska’s large and fluffy co-inhabitants hone down on chunking up for the winter.
According to Abby McAllister, wildlife education and outreach specialist for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, most bears are transitioned into hyperphagia — a biological shift where bears increase their feeding activity and are driven by a need to fatten up for winter — and she urges people to be diligent about bear aware.
“We live in bear country, and that comes with extra responsibilities,” she said. “They are on the move this time of year looking for food sources.”
She said as always, she urges people to keep their trash contained and secured, waiting to put up bird feeders until later in the year and ensuring their compost bin is maintained properly. She also said if people have fruit trees, to make sure they are clearing out any ripe crop so that bears aren’t tempted to come by.
She said there are still two bears in the valley area that have reportedly been breaking into vehicles and said people should remember to lock their cars and keep them clear of food sources.
[Officials urge locals to lock car doors after bears caught opening vehicles]
• Contact reporter Clarise Larson at clarise.larson@juneauempire.com or (651)-528-1807. Follow her on Twitter at @clariselarson.
