As spring arrives, hikers are increasingly using trails in Southcentral and Southeast Alaska. U.S. Forest Service officials are asking the community to stay alert for bears as the snow melts and the weather warms.
Regional wildlife program leader Brand Phillips advises that bears coming out of hibernation are hungry and focused on finding food, so hikers should be aware of their surroundings to avoid surprise encounters with bears.
Here are tips to keep safe offered by USFS for the Tongass and Chugach National Forests:
- Don’t surprise bears. Your voice can be your best tool for making your presence known.
- When possible travel in groups
- Keep dogs on a leash. Loose dogs may encounter a bear and bring it back to hikers
- If you see a bear give it space and do not run
- Carry bear spray and keep it readily available
- At home, secure trash bins and pet food and bring bird feeders in for the season
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