Well we got our first bear today.. normally that is not a big deal, but this one came through camp where the guys fish at 4PM in the afternoon. That is not normal. This is a big Boar Bear who is tracking a female that had 2 cubs last year. Apparently he has killed one and is trying to scare up the female so he can kill the other cub. This will cause the Female to go into heat.
Normally bears stay away from people but this one apparently is putting in so much time chasing momma, that he needs to eat and is trying to find free fish left along the bank by fishermen. He is not being successful since the runs are late starting and our guys throw all fish into the river to prevent a build up of fish smell.
All trash was taken out of camp today by me, and I will be doing pick up duty until the bear is either out of the area, shot dead, or kills the other cub and gets what he wants.
So it is fun being around bears, you just got to know them and watch your step..
OH.. the Alaska Department of fish and game recommends that you wear little bells on your shoes and carry pepper spray.
They also say you should know what different kinds of bear scat looks like.
Black bears will have berries and little seeds, with some small fur from mice, squirrels etc..
A Grizzly or Brown bear will have scat that has little bells in it and smell of pepper spray...
Jim Dicken Around Alaska.