Brown Bear Awake in January

Observation by Ben Foss:

Last night (1/27) at 11:30, dogs chased off a large brown bear, but it stayed in the area for about an hour as the dogs kept it away from the residence. This happened in Pedro Bay at the Post Office near a smoke house. Hungry and looking for food, where it was last fall. Very warm 40 degrees and rain. I'm sure disturbed his hibernation and last night it snowed 6" so we shall see if he goes back to his den. If I was younger, I might go out in this fresh snow and see if I could find out where his den is, relative to the village.

Comments from LEO Editors:

This observation has been forwarded to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

In a 2008 edition of Alaska Fish and Wildlife News, biologist Sean Farley responded to questions about bear hibernation. He writes that hibernation times differ around the state. Bears in northern areas may hibernate for 7 months, while those in warmer coastal areas may hibernate for 2-5 months. Bears may emerge if their den is flooded or damaged, or if there is food available.

Information from the Iliamna Airport weather station indicate that temperatures in early January have risen above the normal average of 25 degrees, to almost 40 degrees. Erica Lujan