Alaskans often associate getting outside and active with rising temperatures of spring but Biologist Jeff Selinger with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game says that the recent temperatures may have more than just people up and active.
Selinger: “First of all, I’d just say I’d be real surprised if there aren’t a few bears out moving around. We had a couple of second and third hand reports of people who had heard of people that saw bear tracks. One set down by Ninilchik and another one up by Cooper Landing.”
He also said that many factors influence when bears come out of hibernation, for instance how much fats stores the bears went into winter with and activity around their dens, but activity now would probably be caused by the warm temperatures.
Selinger added that even though bear issues usually don’t start until May or June, it’s always an important consideration.
Selinger: “Always keep it in the back of your mind that they could be out. I think that’s always a good practice to keep.”