Bears of Alaska
The Chugach and Tongass National Forests of Alaska are home to thousands of black bears (Ursus americanus) and brown bears (Ursus arctos). Seeing a bear in the wild can be the highlight of any trip.
Bear Biology, Behavior, and Status
Bears are intelligent animals, capable of learning and modifying their behavior based on life experiences. All species have an acute sense of smell. The First Nations have a poignant saying: “A pine needle fell. The eagle saw it. The deer heard it. The bear smelled it.” Smell is a bear’s most fundamental and important sense. Bears are thought to have reasonable visual acuity and hearing. Knowledge of bears’ senses and appreciation of their curious nature is useful information to remember when in bear country.
Bears eat a variety of food such as fish, berries, grasses, plants, rodents, carrion, and roots. In many parts of Alaska, brown bears are predators of moose and caribou, especially young calves. They can be opportunists, so it is important to secure any food in bear proof containers.
Safety tips when traveling in bear country
To safely enjoy the experience, visitors to bear country should be prepared for a possible encounter and understand that even in the more popular viewing areas, these are still wild bears. While planning a visit, whether for a day hike or a more extended excursion, understanding and exercising proper preparation for personal safety and management of food and other attractants will go a long way toward ensuring a rewarding experience.
It is important to learn how to conduct yourself in bear country since you are responsible for your own safety. Your behavior influences the outcome of bear encounters.
Bear Safety - Know Before You Go
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Bear Safety Tips
It is important to learn how to conduct yourself in bear country since you are responsible for your own safety. Your behavior influences the outcome of bear encounters.
Understanding bear behavior and communication can help you react better if you encounter a bear. Many generalizations can be made about bear behavior and while bears are individuals that don’t always act the same way under the same circumstance, bear behavior is more predictable than unpredictable.
- Contact local land managers (e.g., Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Alaska State Parks, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) regarding rules and information specific to the area you are visiting.
- Check information boards at trailheads and other locations for information about recent bear activity and follow the advice or direction on posted notices.
- Learn about the habitats that bears use, what foods bears eat and when that food is available. This will help you understand where bears might be and why, but know that bears may show up when and where you least expect them.
- Develop a safety mindset and a response strategy BEFORE you have an encounter. Rehearse and discuss what you would do in a bear encounter. This can help you stay calm and overcome the tendency to panic or overreact, either of which can put you in danger. Remember, your response influences the outcome of a bear encounter.
- Carrying a deterrent is a critical means of defense in bear country. Practice using it before entering bear country and carry it where it can be deployed within seconds. If carrying bear spray, make sure it is one registered by the EPA for defense against bears and is not expired.
Protect Yourself - Protect the Bears
Safety in bear country begins before you set up camp or hit the trail. Understanding and exercising proper preparation for personal safety and management of food and other attractants will go a long way toward ensuring a rewarding experience.
Bears by nature are opportunists
Protect yourself and protect the bears by storing trash and food in designated areas when you visit a national forest. In the wild, they will feed on whatever is readily available. Food odors and improperly stored garbage will attract bears to campgrounds and picnic sites. Bears become habituated to human food if they find it readily available and may begin to associate human scents with the reward of food. These bears can become a threat to humans, property, and themselves— a pattern that normally results in the death of the bear.
BEAR Country Be alert
Bears can be active anywhere and at any time of the day. Educate yourself - know the recent bear activity reports and/or regulations of where you are traveling or camping.
Always play by the rules:
- never feed wildlife
- keep food away from bears
- stay on designated trails and leash pets
- remain calm - if you see a bear, back away slowly while facing the bear and talking calmly.
- never run from a bear.
Safety Tips
- Remember: You are responsible for your own safety and for the safety of those around you!
- Alaska is Bear Country, and many areas support both black and brown bears. Color is not a good indicator of species.
- Avoid bears. While traveling in Bear Country, make noise, travel in a group and be alert.
- When hiking, stay on designated trails, keep pets leashed, and keep children nearby.
- Slow down. Running, biking and other high speed sports in bear country increase risk and can affect your reaction time and distance.
- Be prepared for an encounter. Your behavior influences the outcome of bear encounters.
- Carry and know how to use bear spray, have it easily accessible.
- Your initial response to all bear encounters should be the same: Stand your ground, ready your deterrent, group up, watch the bear, and talk to the bear in a firm voice.
- Never approach, crowd or pursue a bear. Even bears at designated bear-viewing areas need their space and space to leave.
- Stay informed! Check local agency offices and websites for information on bear sightings and regulations.