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Bear Awareness Month
Effective Date: Friday, April 1st, 2011
WHEREAS, Alaska’s wildlife resources are essential to the state’s economic and social well-being, and the wise use of those resources is deeply embedded in the spirit and history of the people who live here; and
WHEREAS, as many of Alaska’s bears emerge from dens in early spring, April is an appropriate time to remind Alaskans about bears, their behavior, and how people can live responsibly in bear country; and
WHEREAS, it is essential for the future of bears in Alaska that people be encouraged to foster a sense of personal responsibility and safety around bears and all wildlife. This can be achieved by responsibly storing and handling bear attractants, practicing outdoor safety, and gaining a greater understanding of Alaskan wildlife; and
WHEREAS, minimizing bear attractants makes our neighborhoods safer, with fewer negative human-bear interactions that are potentially dangerous for both people and bears; and
WHEREAS, as Alaskans, we have a responsibility to instill in ourselves and others a basic understanding of Alaska’s wildlife that will enable us to coexist safely with them; and
WHEREAS, this includes community-based efforts such as educating all Alaskans about how to live responsibly in bear country, minimizing bear attractants around our homes, campsites, cabins and other recreational areas, and encouraging young people to learn about bears and bear safety.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Sean Parnell, Governor of the State of Alaska, do hereby proclaim April 2011 as:
Bear Awareness Month
in Alaska, and encourage Alaskans to educate themselves on the importance of awareness and safety issues surrounding Alaska’s bears and wildlife, thereby helping to ensure the future of our Alaskan wildlife heritage.
Dated: April 1, 2011

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Photo by Robin Song

Local writer and host Robin Song takes us on a few hours’ bear-viewing excursion from  Kodiak Island. She watches a couple brown bears as their play  turns to fight. What it’s like to be up close and personal with brown bears….

This program first aired in summer 2009.

Audio runs 6:20.

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Instead of going to trial for the killings of a bear sow and her three cubs, Yukon Don Tanner saw the wildlife infraction charges against him dismissed by the district attorney. Tanner’s jury trial was scheduled for November 12, but that day, Anchorage assistant attorney general for special prosecutions Andrew Peterson dropped the charges and settled with Tanner.

The bear killings happened in July when a sow with three cubs approached Tanners cabin near Clear Creek. A trooper report says Tanner shot the grizzly sow through an open window at his residence and that she was accompanied by three cubs. Tanner then shot two of the brown bear cubs as they were attempting to break into his residence. Tanner also shot the third cub as it was standing beside the sow. On July 20, Tanner was issued a summons to appear in court on the charges of Taking a Sow accompanied by Cubs and Taking a Cub Bear.

Prosecutors agreed to knock down the charge of illegally killing sow and cubs because Alaska Department of Fish and Game biologists determined that the younger bears were about 2 years old and although the mother still nursed, they were technically not considered cubs. This dismissed the original charge of illegally taking sow and cubs.

Peterson withdrew the remaining charges of taking cub bears and Palmer Superior court judge John Wolfe dismissed the case.

Geri Denkewalter reads a poem in honor of the recent restoration of the bear that serves as a landmark for Talkeetna at the intersection of the Parks Highway and the Talkeetna Spur Road. During a dedication ceremony, held on Friday afternoon, the Girl Scout Troop 293 officially unveiled a dedication plaque naming the bear “K’etnu Shesh”, Athabascan for River Bear. The plaque also lists all community members who helped restore the bear statue. The Girl Scout Troop 293 choose the restoration of the bear as their 2008/2009 community project. Photo by Diana Haecker

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April Moore poses with the so far unnamed "new" bear

The bear that has slowly leaned toward the ground at the Talkeetna “Y” has had a makeover and is standing straight again.

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Encounter on a bear viewing trip-photo by Robin Song

KTNA volunteer Robin Song describes her experience on a bear viewing trip out of Kodiak Island. Audio is 6 min 30 sec.

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(More photos in “Read More”)

Photos by Robin Song