This blog post presents a recent op-ed published in the Anchorage Daily News exploring how seasonal changes bring bears back into Alaska’s communities and what residents can do to prevent human–bear conflicts and protect both wildlife and people.
Temperatures are rising, snow is melting and bears will soon emerge from their dens.
The return of bears to the landscape signals a shift in how we should approach outdoor recreation and our behavior around our homes.
Each year, more than 100 bears are killed by humans in Alaska outside of seasonal hunting. The majority of these bears are killed by residents or local agencies and often occur after persistent encounters with human-provided attractants — like chicken coops, gardens, garbage, compost and beehives.
The good news is that these deaths are preventable, and there are many small actions you can take to protect yourself and the bears in your area. Bears spend the spring, summer and fall using their incredible sense of smell to find food and build the fat stores necessary to survive the winter denning period. Strong smells draw bears in. And if they find an easy meal, these experiences teach bears to associate neighborhoods and community spaces with food.
The best way to protect bears and people from conflict is to secure potential food sources from bears before they discover it. Below are two tools that can help you keep bears out of places they don’t belong:
Bear-resistant garbage cans are specially designed containers that are reinforced with strong materials and locking systems to keep wildlife out. Contact your local waste hauler to learn if they provide bear-resistant garbage cans.
Electric fencing can deter brown and black bears from a variety of attractants. Modern electric fencing is relatively inexpensive and safe for humans, pets and wildlife. Electric fencing is also versatile. These fences can run off the power grid or a battery with a solar recharging option. There are also portable electric fences that are suited to hunters, anglers and campers in the backcountry.
Defenders of Wildlife offers an electric fence reimbursement program in Southeast Alaska, the Kenai Peninsula, Anchorage and Kodiak.
Any resident, homeowner, business, nonprofit or tribe within eligible areas may receive a 50% reimbursement for up to $500 following the purchase and proper installation of an electric fence. Please contact Defenders to learn more about our electric fence subsidy program and portable electric fencing reimbursements by visiting www.defenders.org/got-bears.
These kinds of deterrents work best when used preventively. Once bears become food-conditioned, it can be extremely difficult to reverse the behavior. While both electric fencing and bear-resistant containers can still deter these bears after they’ve discovered a food source, they may continue that behavior in new locations and have likely already suffered negative health effects from consuming non-natural foods.
The best thing we can do for bears and for our communities is to be proactive about preventing conflict. Alaska is bear country, so consider protecting potential food sources from bears before you experience conflict. Don’t wait until your property is damaged and a bear has learned bad behaviors in your yard. Being a responsible neighbor includes your local wildlife.
Isabel Grant is responsible for managing Defenders’ bear coexistence programs in Alaska, including the Electric Fence Incentive Program. She collaborates with local agencies, organizations and tribes on projects that promote coexistence between humans and bears in Alaska communities.
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