More Brown Bears (Ursus arctos)

Observation: This past year going out hunting and fishing with my husband and father I have noticed an increase in bear activity. There have been a number of bear sightings here in Koyukuk. A Grizzly bear was killed in town and also a couple of black bears. We see tracks all over the beaches on the Koyukuk River. Maybe they are looking for food. The Grizzly that was killed here was going to a smoke house here in town every night for a week at the same time 11:30 pm. There is also an increase in wolves. My 8 year old daughter and I ran into a wolf while out chicken hunting (we were walking) behind Koyukuk! It wasn't scary until I got home and realized if I didn't have my daughter with me I probably would have went running after it. I wasn't too sure what it was at first and my cousin told me it sounded like it could have been a wolf. Sure enough the place where we saw the wolf there are fresh wolf tracks and we hear them howling behind town almost every night. This year was the first time I had seen a live bear in years. So yes I think we are seeing an increase in bear population. I am 33 years old and have never seen a live wolf before and this year I have seen three live wolves!! We saw two up the Koyukuk River when we brought our kids out for a picnic/swimming day. April Williams for Hazel Lolnitz

Resource:

Alaska Department of Fish & Game – "Brown bears (Ursus arctos) are very adaptable and like humans, they consume a wide variety of foods. Common foods include salmon, berries, grasses, sedges, cow parsnip, ground squirrels, carrion, and roots. In many parts of Alaska, brown bears are capable predators of moose and caribou, especially newborns. Bears may also be attracted to human camps and homes by improperly stored food and garbage as well as domestic animals." Brown Bear Safety: To learn about traveling, fishing and camping in bear country, see: Living With Bears.