Bears in December

Observation by Anne Morris:

My daughter Silvanna Brandell took these photos. She lives in King Cove, AK. Bears are still awake in December. The bears would normally be hibernating by now.

Shaelyn Walker comments:

Those bears are cubs and I think they lost their mother.

Comments from LEO Editors:

This observation has been shared with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for comment on bear activity during the past few months.

In some parts of Alaska, bear/human interactions increased during 2020. In Southeast Alaska, Juneau-based ADF&G biologists theorized that unusual winter-bear activity was related to a decrease in the availability of fish, berries, and other wild foods. In Haines, the Borough's Bear Task Force recommended hiring a seasonal public safety officer to help address bear-related calls that increased by 600% compared to previous years. Bears remained active in Haines even as snow covered the ground. In Anchorage, a bear broke in to the Alaska Zoo, killing an alpaca, and another acted aggressively toward people in a local park. A list of bear-related posts from 2020 can be found here.