News Release

“Totem Park” Trails at Medium Risk for Bear Activity

Xóots ák.wé? Aaá, xóots áwé (Is that a bear? Yes, that’s a bear.) Shee (Baranof Island) has a dense concentration of xóots or brown bears. You may encounter brown bears at any time of year in the park, but especially during salmon season.

Photo courtesy O. Magni

News Release Date: July 22, 2022

Contact: Kara Lewandowski, [phone]

SITKA, ALASKA—The fish are running in Kaasdahéen (Indian River) and bears are once again active in Sitka. Bear sign and human/bear encounters have been reported in Sitka National Historical Park. Due to this recent activity, the park is now at Level 2, Medium Risk (Yellow) for bear activity in accordance with the Human and Bear Management Plan.

The National Park Service posted yellow advisory signs at trail entrances and is continuing morning roves along trails, using an airhorn to discourage bears from remaining in the area during the day. You can help park staff by reporting all bear observations in the park. This can be done by calling the new bear hotline [phone]), reporting your observation at the visitor center, or telling any park ranger. Please include the date, time, and location of the bear sighting and a description of the bear and what it was doing.

All visitors to Sitka National Historical Park are encouraged to be bear aware by following the following bear safety tips:

• Stay Alert – Use your eyes, ears and even your nose to detect the presence of a bear. The sooner you are aware of a bear, the more time you have to react appropriately.
• Keep Fido Leashed – Dogs are required to be on a leash in the park and under your immediate control.
• Be Visible, Make Noise – Bears don't like to be surprised. A surprise encounter with a bear is dangerous. Avoid surprises by traveling in open areas with good visibility. Talk or clap to make noise as you walk, particularly if there’s low visibility. Be extra alert in windy conditions or near noisy streams that mask your sound.
• Safety in Numbers – The larger your group is, the less risk of a bear attacking. Group members should stay within a few feet of each other, particularly if visibility is poor.
• Avoid Bears – If possible, change your course to avoid bears that you've detected, or move slowly away from them. Never approach a bear, even from a boat or kayak; approaching a bear can cause undue stress and provoke an attack.
• Store Food & Trash Properly – Keep all food, trash, and scented items under your immediate control, at all times. At home and while camping, keep a clean area and store food appropriately. Do not allow a bear to get your food or trash. It will only encourage the bear and make the problem worse for the next person.
• Report Bear Encounters – If you have an encounter with a bear in the park, report it to a park ranger as soon as possible. This will alert others and enable park staff to respond appropriately to the situation, if necessary.

More information about staying safe in bear country can be found on the National Park Service website at Staying Safe Around Bears - Bears (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov).