Juneau, Alaska, a city within a vast natural landscape, often prompts questions about its wildlife, especially bears. While the region is bear country, the specific species and their distribution are often misunderstood. Grizzly bears (brown bears) are not commonly found within Juneau’s immediate road system or urban areas. Black bears are the predominant species observed in and around the city.
Bears in Juneau
Juneau’s environment provides prime habitat for black bears, making their presence common in residential areas, along hiking trails, and near salmon streams. These omnivores consume a diverse diet of berries, grasses, insects, and fish, abundant in the local ecosystem. Black bears thrive in the coastal rainforest on available natural food sources.
Coastal brown bears, the same species as grizzlies, are larger due to their protein-rich diet, including salmon. While brown bears are found throughout mainland Alaska and on nearby islands, they are not seen along Juneau’s road system. Nearby Admiralty and Chichagof Islands are renowned for their dense brown bear populations, offering significant viewing opportunities away from the city’s immediate vicinity.
Identifying Bears
Distinguishing black from brown bears involves observing physical characteristics, as fur color alone is unreliable. Both species display a wide range of colors, from black to various shades of brown or blonde.
A key differentiating feature is the presence of a prominent muscular shoulder hump on brown bears, which is absent in black bears.
Brown bears have a “dished” or concave facial profile, whereas black bears have a straighter profile from their forehead to their nose.
Brown bear ears are smaller and more rounded in proportion to their head, while black bears have larger, more pointed ears.
Brown bears have long, gently curved front claws (two to four inches) adapted for digging. Black bears have shorter, more sharply curved claws (less than two inches), better suited for climbing trees.
Safe Practices Around Bears
Living and recreating in Juneau requires an understanding of how to minimize human-bear conflicts, particularly with the prevalent black bear population.
Properly securing food and garbage is important, as bears are attracted to easily accessible human food sources. Juneau has ordinances requiring residents to store trash in bear-resistant containers or enclosed structures until collection day. Cleaning outdoor grills and storing pet food indoors also helps reduce attractants.
When hiking or engaging in outdoor activities, making noise, such as talking or singing, can alert bears to your presence and prevent surprising them. Traveling in groups is also advisable, as larger groups are more easily detected by bears.
Carrying bear spray, an aerosol deterrent made from red pepper oil, and knowing how to use it effectively is a recommended safety measure. If an encounter occurs, it is important to stand your ground, speak calmly, and slowly wave your arms to appear larger. Retreating slowly while facing the bear is also an option, but running should be avoided, as it can trigger a chase instinct.