Grizzly bears are present in Alaska, which is home to the largest population in North America. These bears are abundant across nearly the entire Alaskan landscape, from coastal rainforests to the Arctic tundra. They are an important part of the ecosystem due to their wide-ranging diet and role in seed dispersal. Alaska holds over 98% of the brown bear population found in the United States and more than 70% of the North American population.
Clarifying the Terminology: Brown Bears vs. Grizzlies
Grizzly bears and brown bears are the same species, Ursus arctos. The distinction used in Alaska is not based on separate species but rather on where the bear lives and what it eats. Bears residing along the coast, which have access to protein-rich marine resources like spawning salmon, are typically called brown bears.
Coastal brown bears grow significantly larger and often live in higher population densities due to the relative abundance of food. Conversely, bears found inland in the mountains, tundra, and interior forests are commonly referred to as grizzlies. Interior grizzlies maintain a smaller body size and require much larger territories because their food sources, such as roots, berries, and small mammals, are scarcer and more dispersed. Kodiak bears (U. a. middendorffi), found exclusively on the Kodiak Archipelago, are a subspecies genetically isolated since the last Ice Age.
Where Alaska’s Bears Roam: Distribution and Habitat
Brown bears occur throughout almost all of Alaska, with exceptions only on a few islands in the Aleutian Chain and in the Bering Sea. Their habitats range from sea level to approximately 5,000 feet in elevation, covering coastal areas, mountain ranges, and the vast interior tundra. The distribution is heavily influenced by the availability of food resources.
Coastal environments, such as the Alaska Peninsula and areas in Southeast Alaska, support the highest densities of bears. Here, the seasonal availability of up to five species of Pacific salmon allows bears to congregate and build significant fat reserves. In contrast, interior regions like Denali National Park and the North Slope have much lower bear densities, sometimes as sparse as one bear per 300 square miles. The difference in food availability means that interior grizzlies must roam over much larger home ranges to find sustenance.
Katmai National Park and Preserve, Lake Clark National Park, and Admiralty Island National Monument are concentration areas for bear viewing. The bears in these locations benefit from rich ecosystems that provide abundant berries, sedges, and, most notably, salmon. These areas are managed to allow both healthy bear populations and safe human observation.
Population Estimates and Management
Because a statewide census is impossible due to the size and remoteness of the habitat, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game estimates a population of approximately 30,000 brown bears in Alaska. Population density varies dramatically across the state, from as high as one bear per square mile in rich coastal areas to a low of less than 40 bears per 1,000 square kilometers in the interior. These estimates are often determined through modern methods like DNA-based mark-recapture studies, which use hair samples collected at monitored stations.
The management of this population is overseen by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, focusing on maintaining stable and productive populations. This is primarily achieved through regulated hunting, which is strictly monitored to prevent overharvesting, especially in high-density areas like the Alaska Peninsula and Kodiak Island. Conservation efforts include habitat protection and ongoing research to understand population dynamics and how bears interact with human development.
Safe Coexistence: Minimizing Human-Bear Encounters
When entering bear country, making noise, such as talking or singing, while hiking is highly effective because it alerts bears to human presence, preventing them from being startled. Bears generally prefer to avoid people and will move off the trail if they hear you approaching. Traveling in groups is also recommended, as bears are less likely to approach multiple people than a solitary hiker.
Properly securing all food, garbage, and scented items is mandatory to prevent bears from associating humans with easy meals. This requires the use of bear-proof food containers or canisters, especially when camping overnight in the backcountry. If an encounter does occur, never run, as this can trigger a bear’s chase instinct. Instead, stand your ground, speak calmly to the bear to identify yourself as human, and slowly back away without turning your back.
The most effective deterrent is bear spray, a highly concentrated capsaicin solution, which should be carried in an easily accessible location, not packed away inside a backpack. If a brown bear charges defensively—usually because you surprised it or are too close to its cubs or a food source—the recommended response is to play dead by lying flat on your stomach and covering your neck. If a bear attacks aggressively, however, the advice shifts to fighting back with all available means.