Bears
Both black and brown bears inhabit the areas traversed
by the Juneau trail system and are commonly seen. The Alaska
Department of Fish & Game provides details about their
natural history as part of its Wildlife
Notebook Series.
Whether hiking in wilderness or urban areas, and especially
if you plan on camping in Southeast Alaska, please review
the precautions for watching bears and avoiding encounters.
Know about typical brown and black bear behaviors and how
to react before venturing out on trails. The Forest Service
provides advice at its Bear
Facts: Essentials of Traveling in Bear Country. It answers questions such as:
Should you turn and run when you come upon a bear at close
range?
How close can you get to a bear and remain safe?
Is normal conversation loud enough to warn a bear of your
presence when passing through areas with limited visibility?
Do bears rely more on scent or hearing to detect human
presence?
When cooking in the backcountry, should food wastes be
buried?
Are aerosol bear sprays ('pepper sprays') effective in
deterring bear attacks?
When fishing, what should you do if you see a bear?
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