Alaska News

When it comes to urban bears, sometimes people are the problem

A black bear sow and her two young cubs are causing quite a stir in Anchorage's U-Med district.

The bears have been spotted on the campuses of the University of Alaska Anchorage and Alaska Pacific University, as well as on property owned by Providence Alaska Medical Center, according to UAA police.

The trio has been in the area for at least a week and seems to pose little threat to people nearby. But a close call on Thursday highlighted the dangerous possibilities.

UAA Police Chief Rick Shell said the bear had treed her cubs near a UAA bike path after getting into garbage cans at several area bus stops and walking through the campus. But it isn't the bears Shell is worried about -- it's the people.

"Our biggest concern is the two-legged critters that stop to get photographs and video," Shell said. People are getting too close to the bears, he added.

"(The sow) hasn't been aggressive towards people at all," Shell said -- and he's asking for the public's help to make sure it stays that way. "I hope that everyone will give them some space."

Contact Sean Doogan at sean@alaskadispatch.com.

ADVERTISEMENT

SEAN DOOGAN

sean@alaskadispatch.com

Sean Doogan

Sean Doogan is a former reporter for Alaska Dispatch and Alaska Dispatch News.

ADVERTISEMENT