Bold black bears are causing some trouble in Juneau

Locals have shared stories of bold black bear cubs entering downtown homes and the calls stemming from these sightings have kept officials like Ryan Scott, area management biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, busier than normal.

"I can't exactly say why," he said, "but we seem to have a bumper crop of young bears this year."

He said the organization's call log has already surpassed last year's total tally by a long shot.

Scott said Fish and Game employees are systematically working through bear issues and taking steps to prevent unwanted encounters.

"That means trapping and relocating bears, or working with homeowners to eliminate attractants," he said.

The department has also installed three electric fences and a host of other electric gizmos to address and attempt to resolve any bear issues that arise.

"Our staff is working very hard to address this summer's bears," he said.

Scott said they've captured a total of nine bears this season -- eight black bears and one orphaned brown bear cub, which was euthanized. Of the nine, four black bears were captured and fitted with radio collars, then released after calls came in related to activity in the Tee Harbor area.

"Our goal is to be able to keep tabs on those radio collared bears," Scott said. "That played out with one bear who became an issue. Ultimately we ended up trapping and removing that bear."

Three black bears have been caught and relocated. One female was trapped on Gastineau Avenue before being sent farther north. A male was recently caught in Mountainside Estates and also sent northward. A third was trapped on the flats and also relocated, Scott said.

There has been one recent report of a bear being killed, Scott said. That incident occurred Wednesday night on North Douglas. Scott said the ADF&G is still working through the details associated with that instance.

"(We have also) spent an inordinate amount of time with a sow with three cubs and we are still looking for another sow black bear with one cub," he said.

Scott said he isn't certain what is causing the rise in bear problems in the Juneau area this year, but officials have noticed a decrease in wild berry crops. He said this may be why bears are beginning to search for other food sources.

"We're asking people to really be careful with any attractants," he said. "We just want people to be proactive and diligent."

Garbage enclosures should be sealed tight and checked for any areas where bears could wedge claws or pry loose boards, he said. All birdseed should be put away for the season and any containers that are bear proof should be properly maintained.

Reports have also come in surrounding bear sightings on local trails, Scott said.

"We've had reports of what people describe as aggressive behavior, but those are hard to pinpoint," he said. "We can't be sure if there was a cub nearby, or if there was a food cache nearby."

Regardless, Scott said people should always feel free to call the ADF&G and talk to staff about bear activity. And, he said, keep in mind key safety tips for moving through areas that might harbor bears.

"Try to travel in groups, make noise, clap your hands," he said. "And certainly try to avoid areas with lots of bear sign."

Typically, bear activity peaks in the fall. But currently, Scott said there isn't an area in Juneau that isn't seeing bear activity.