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The ADN asked candidates for Anchorage mayor their views on a variety of issues. We're printing their responses between now and the April 7 election.
Here is the question they are answering today: What, if anything, should the city do about the prospect of more bear attacks in city parks this summer? Walt Monegan A public awareness campaign for our community in schools, park and trail signs, community councils, libraries and on the Muni Web site on safety tips in bear country should be provided. Certainly, if we work with state agencies to address problem bears, mind our own trash, pets and wild food issues, we can enjoy living safely in our Alaskan community. Billy Ray Powers Nothing. Sheila Selkregg The city and state need to coordinate. We need a clear management plan that considers the Anchorage Bowl's carrying capacity for wildlife, appropriate land-use strategies to reduce human/wildlife conflicts, sensible stream enhancement and stocking programs that consider that fish bring bears. We need a safety management plan for protecting humans in areas of critical conflict. We need sensible park management that ensures we are aware of critical areas where development or increased human use can lead to conflict. Larry Shooshanian Did not respond Dan Sullivan I don't believe in closing down the parks and trails during their highest use period because we are unable to adequately control the wildlife. We are an urban area and we have the responsibility to provide for the public safety of our residents. We need to maintain high garbage management standards and I am not opposed to a limited hunt as necessary to protect the public. Richard Wanda Yes, city would spend the money wisely, because bears are harmful to tourists and residents. Matt Claman Public education is the key to avoiding human-bear encounters. Eric Croft We need to identify problem bears earlier and remove them from potential contact with humans. We should also continue community efforts to reduce and secure the things that attract bears to our neighborhoods. Merica Hlatcu Did not participate. Paul Honeman Increased education and monitoring, stronger enforcement of "nuisance garbage ordinance" (spring/summer), work with state Fish and Game on strategies to address bear activity and immediate response to agitated wildlife. Phil Isley Keep garbage cleaned up, relocate bears to the wild or zoos; worst case would be elimination. Paul D. Kendall (Call the parking authority meter ticket dispensers to handle them. Ha ha.) SCI FI -- GPS implant in the bears and YouTube video track them by charging the world to view their routes and if they get near a neighborhood have the implant Taser the bear and we will pick them up and displace them. ??? A little humor. Jacob Seth Kern Relocate bears back to the wild. Dominic S.F. Lee Tell the state Fish and Game department to catch all the bears and ship them to Kodiak Island so they will never come back to Anchorage. Bob "Joker" Lupo Well, we could close the parks, or shoot the bears, or how about just be aware that we live in Alaska, and the bears live here too.