bears

Courtesy Photo / Jesse Ramsey A number of bears, such as this one spotted downtown, have been observed around Juneau seeking shelter in cooler interiors and looking for food, according to Department of Fish and Game researchers. (Courtesy Photo / Jesse Ramsey)

Wildlife officials urge preventative measures as bears display concerning behaviors

High heat and human habituating are contributing factors.

 

Encounters with bears like this one near the Shrine of St. Therese are on track for a normal year right now, but the berry and salmon seasons are too early to call right now, say biologists. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)

Bear encounters running par for course so far in 2021

It’s too early to call the berry or salmon seasons, which play a large part.

 

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Bears, like this one looking for fish in a stream along the Steep Creek Trail at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center on Aug. 22, 2020, have been sleeping through the winter but they’re waking up and experts want residents to be prepared.

Bear in mind: What you need to know now that they’re waking up

A bear-raising situation.

 

This Feb. 13, 2021 photo provided by Erik Stevens shows a bear track in the Alaska in the backcountry near where resident Shannon Stevens was bit by a bear in an outhouse. Stevens was using an outhouse in the backcountry and she was attacked by a bear, from below.(Erik Stevens via AP)

Alaska woman using outhouse attacked by bear, from below

Pain in the rear.

This Feb. 13, 2021 photo provided by Erik Stevens shows a bear track in the Alaska in the backcountry near where resident Shannon Stevens was bit by a bear in an outhouse. Stevens was using an outhouse in the backcountry and she was attacked by a bear, from below.(Erik Stevens via AP)
A helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka, flying an MH-60 Jayhawk like the one above, rescued a backcountry skier who was attacked by a bear outside of Haines on Feb. 6, 2021. (Petty Officer 1st Class Jon-Paul Rios | U.S. Coast Guard)

Coast Guard rescues skier mauled by bear near Haines

The man is currently in stable condition at Bartlett Regional Hospital.

A helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka, flying an MH-60 Jayhawk like the one above, rescued a backcountry skier who was attacked by a bear outside of Haines on Feb. 6, 2021. (Petty Officer 1st Class Jon-Paul Rios | U.S. Coast Guard)
A brown bear stands on Chichagof Island. "A Shape in the Dark: Living and Dying with Brown Bears" tells both firsthand and historic stories of human interactions with brown bears. The book is scheduled to be released Feb. 15 on Mountaineers Books. (Courtesy Photo / Bjorn Dihle)

Bearing it all: New book offers nuanced look at human-ursine interactions

Bjorn Dihle wanted to write a book about brown bears, man and how the two species get along that wasn’t scary. “I didn’t want to… Continue reading

A brown bear stands on Chichagof Island. "A Shape in the Dark: Living and Dying with Brown Bears" tells both firsthand and historic stories of human interactions with brown bears. The book is scheduled to be released Feb. 15 on Mountaineers Books. (Courtesy Photo / Bjorn Dihle)
A black bear saunters across a busy street downtown in 2018. A larger than normal number of young bears and dwindling natural food supply for them are forcing the animals to head for Juneau’s garbage with unusual frequency, a wildlife official said. KTOO Public Media reports that a poor berry crop and lackluster salmon runs mean more bears are looking for food among the city’s trash. (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer)

More young bears, less food send them to Juneau’s garbage

A poor berry crop and lackluster salmon runs contribute.

A black bear saunters across a busy street downtown in 2018. A larger than normal number of young bears and dwindling natural food supply for them are forcing the animals to head for Juneau’s garbage with unusual frequency, a wildlife official said. KTOO Public Media reports that a poor berry crop and lackluster salmon runs mean more bears are looking for food among the city’s trash. (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer)
Alaska Department of Fish and Game wildlife educator Abby McAllister applies a sticker letting a resident know their trash can isn’t bear-resistant as part of a larger effort to reduce rising numbers of bears in Juneau. (Courtesy photo / Laurie Craig)

Group works to reduce bear-related issues as public outcry rises

There’s no such thing as truly-bear proof .

Alaska Department of Fish and Game wildlife educator Abby McAllister applies a sticker letting a resident know their trash can isn’t bear-resistant as part of a larger effort to reduce rising numbers of bears in Juneau. (Courtesy photo / Laurie Craig)
The Juneau Bear Committee will be identifying and tagging trash cans that lack bear-resistant characteristics with these stickers the week of Aug. 31. (Courtesy art / Juneau Police Department)

Juneau Bear Committee canvassing to tag inadequate trash cans

This year’s young bears are bold and plentiful.

The Juneau Bear Committee will be identifying and tagging trash cans that lack bear-resistant characteristics with these stickers the week of Aug. 31. (Courtesy art / Juneau Police Department)
A bear broke into a pizza delivery car Friday morning, chasing the sweet scent. (Courtesy photo / Juneau Pizza)

Bear breaks into car chasing scent of pizza

The interior was shredded, but it’s already getting fixed

A bear broke into a pizza delivery car Friday morning, chasing the sweet scent. (Courtesy photo / Juneau Pizza)
Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File A black bear sow and her cub walk along the Trail of Time at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. A lack of visitors to the area this year may have emboldened bears to explore surrounding areas, local experts said, although it’s hard to know for sure.

Are more bears wandering in residential areas? It’s hard to say

Less tourists and early-summer hunger could be pushing them into areas usually more crowded.

Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File A black bear sow and her cub walk along the Trail of Time at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. A lack of visitors to the area this year may have emboldened bears to explore surrounding areas, local experts said, although it’s hard to know for sure.
A black bear feeds on dandelions near Peterson Creek in this August 2018 photo. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Be mindful of inquisitive ursine neighbors as weather warms

Bears are trash scavengers, particularly in lean years

A black bear feeds on dandelions near Peterson Creek in this August 2018 photo. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
A black bear is seen at the Alaska State Capitol on Oct. 4, 2018. (Megan Wallace | Courtesy photo)

Bear-ly any nuisance bears in Juneau this year

A ‘paws’ in unwelcome ursine visitors.

A black bear is seen at the Alaska State Capitol on Oct. 4, 2018. (Megan Wallace | Courtesy photo)
Bear 153 was the topic of Laurie Craig’s Fireside Lecture Friday, Feb. 8, 2019. (Courtesy Photo | Laurie Craig)

Since a young age, this bear has lived with an audience

Think Nicky is too mainstream? Here’s your bear.

Bear 153 was the topic of Laurie Craig’s Fireside Lecture Friday, Feb. 8, 2019. (Courtesy Photo | Laurie Craig)
LaVern Beier speaks during his Fireside Lecture about Gobi bears at Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center Friday, Feb.1, 2019. (Ben Hohenstatt | Juneau Empire)

Bear with him: Retired researcher talks about studying world’s most endangered bear

There are fewer than 50 of these bears left and he’s touched three of them.

LaVern Beier speaks during his Fireside Lecture about Gobi bears at Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center Friday, Feb.1, 2019. (Ben Hohenstatt | Juneau Empire)
A black bear crosses the Glacier Spur Road in August 2008. This is likely not the bear that was hit and killed this past weekend. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Black bear dies after being hit by car

The driver who hit the bear left the scene.

A black bear crosses the Glacier Spur Road in August 2008. This is likely not the bear that was hit and killed this past weekend. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
A brown bear on the trail at the Anan Creek Wildlife Observatory on Wednesday, August 9, 2017. This is not the brown bear suspected in a mauling near Greens Creek Mine on Monday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Greens Creek contracted employee dead after bear mauling

One person is reportedly dead after being mauled by a bear near Greens Creek Mine.

A brown bear on the trail at the Anan Creek Wildlife Observatory on Wednesday, August 9, 2017. This is not the brown bear suspected in a mauling near Greens Creek Mine on Monday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
A black bear is seen at the Alaska State Capitol at 4:12 p.m. Thursday in this photo taken by Megan Wallace and provided to the Empire. The bear wandered downtown Juneau at the start of the evening rush hour, lingering outside Dimond Courthouse, the Capitol, Key Bank and a bear statue. (Megan Wallace | Courtesy photo)

Black bear visits Capitol, courthouse

A black bear caused a brief stir in downtown Juneau on Thursday afternoon after it wandered onto the front steps of the Alaska Capitol, meandered… Continue reading

A black bear is seen at the Alaska State Capitol at 4:12 p.m. Thursday in this photo taken by Megan Wallace and provided to the Empire. The bear wandered downtown Juneau at the start of the evening rush hour, lingering outside Dimond Courthouse, the Capitol, Key Bank and a bear statue. (Megan Wallace | Courtesy photo)
Bear breaks into Bartlett

Bear breaks into Bartlett

Staff and patients at Bartlett Regional Hospital received a surprise visitor on Monday evening. It wasn’t another patient in unbearable pain, but something different: A… Continue reading

Bear breaks into Bartlett
Flowers bloom at the Jensen-Olson Arboretum in July 2018. The Arboretum is closed until further notice due to excessive on-site bear activity. The closure is expected to last approximately two to three weeks. Visitor access will not be allowed during this time and no exceptions will be made. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Bears edge out humans at Arboretum

Ursine interest in the city’s botanical garden has made visits too dangerous

Flowers bloom at the Jensen-Olson Arboretum in July 2018. The Arboretum is closed until further notice due to excessive on-site bear activity. The closure is expected to last approximately two to three weeks. Visitor access will not be allowed during this time and no exceptions will be made. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)