Keeping Bears and People Safe This Spring

Alaska’s snow is melting, and soon the bears will wake from their winter sleep. When they start hunting for food, people need to change how they keep their homes and neighborhoods safe. Every year more than a hundred bears are killed in Alaska by residents or local authorities, usually after the animals have repeatedly found food that people left out. Common attractants include chicken coops, gardens, garbage, compost piles and even beehives. The good news is that these killings can be stopped with a few simple steps. Bears use their powerful noses to locate food and build fat stores for the winter, so anything that smells strong can lure them in. Once a bear learns that a certain place offers easy food, it will keep coming back and can become a danger to people. The best way to stop this is to lock away any food before the bears notice it. Two tools that help keep bears out are: 1. Bear‑resistant trash cans, which are built with strong materials and locks that wildlife cannot open. Check with your local waste service to see if they supply these containers.2. Electric fences, which can keep both brown and black bears away from gardens, compost piles or other attractants. Modern fences are cheap, safe for humans and pets, and can run on batteries or solar power. Portable versions exist for hunters, anglers and campers too. In Southeast Alaska, the Kenai Peninsula, Anchorage and Kodiak, a program called Defenders of Wildlife offers a 50 % rebate—up to $500—for installing an electric fence. Anyone who owns or manages a property in those areas can apply by visiting the program’s website. These tools work best when used before a bear learns to associate a place with food. Once an animal is conditioned, it can be hard to change its behavior and the bear may already have suffered from eating unsuitable food. Being proactive is the key: secure all possible food sources early, before a bear arrives or learns bad habits. By protecting their environment, Alaskans can keep both people and bears safe during the spring and beyond.