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On Tuesday, A 2-year-old female brown bear was euthanized after numerous reports of aggressive behavior near McHugh Creek, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
State wildlife biologists said the bear was put down before a more dangerous situation occurred near the Seward Highway along the Turnagain Arm Trail.
There have been numerous sightings recently and Fish and Game made the decision after more reports the bear had charged or approached hikers.
“With all the greening up, and high density, it’s a very popular hiking area with hundreds of people on the trail,” Jessy Coltrane, a Fish and Game wildlife biologist said. “Hikers have done everything we told them not to do it, and we can’t control people, so unfortunately the bear had to be put down.”
Coltrane said the bear was not Shaguyik, the missing Kodiak brown bear from the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, after darting the bear and double checking with AWWC.
The bear had started developing troublesome behavior for hikers after finding a dead dog that was shot and tossed at a roadside ditch and salmon carcasses.
State biologists said hikers should be prepared by knowing some bear safety before enjoying the outdoors.
“You should never run from a brown bear,” Coltrane said. “Do not run, you might illicit a chase situation.”
Coltrane also advised that people make plenty of noise when traveling and if you can travel in groups, and know how to use bear spray.
For more safety information, visit Fish and Game website.
Email Neil Torquiano
Editor’s note: A story on the brown bear being euthanized first appeared in the Alaska Dispatch.