garbage bears Archives

Task Force looks for proactive solutions to Sitka’s urban bear issues

by KCAW News | Apr 21, 2022 | The Morning Interview

The Sitka Bear Task Force is reconvening to gather ideas for addressing Sitka's bear issues proactively. Assembly liaison Crystal Duncan and ADF&G biologist Steve Bethune discuss the group's mission and goals and aspects of habitat biology which make garbage management a more effective solution than killing the animals. The first meeting is noon, Thursday, April 21, in Harrigan Centennial Hall. The public is welcome to attend. Read More

ADF&G: As long as Sitkans keep setting the table (with tempting trash), brown bears will keep sitting at it

by Robert Woolsey, KCAW | Nov 26, 2021 | Local News, Syndicated

ADF&G biologist Steve Bethune doesn't refer to these animals as "problem bears." “Because they're just bears being bears," he says. "It's actually people that are the problem. And the bears are using the intelligence that they've been created with, and all their resources, and they have to do the best they can with whatever they can just to survive.” Read More

It’s been an extraordinarily lethal season for brown bears in Sitka. Now what?

by Robert Woolsey, KCAW | Oct 29, 2021 | Local News, Syndicated

Sitka’s Fish & Game Advisory committee wants to revive a local bear working group, to look for solutions to the high number of kills in the community this season -- but some members did not to see more fines or penalties. Read More

The three bears killed at Sitka’s waste transfer station likely won’t be the season’s last, officials say

by Robert Woolsey, KCAW | Oct 22, 2021 | Local News, Syndicated

Wildlife officials this week (Tuesday 10-19-2) shot and killed three brown bears at Sitka’s waste transfer station. As their search for food intensifies, these bears probably won't be the last animals to be "removed" before winter. Read More

Sitka bear task force tackles ‘trash caches’

by Robert Woolsey, KCAW | Apr 11, 2014 | Local News, Syndicated

The Sitka Bear Task Force has organized work parties to tackle several bear caches -- the places around town where brown bears have been dragging garbage bags over the years, to sort through their loot undisturbed. Alaska Department of Fish & Game biologist Phil Mooney says cleaning up these so-called “trash caches” is no small job. “Over the years you’ll get some places where you’ll have 2 and 3 pickup loads of material that’s piled back in there,” he says.Read More