Bear Advisory Issued For Northern Beardslee Islands

Date: June 26, 2008
Contact: Randy Larson, Chief Ranger, 907-697-2621

This notice is to advise kayakers of an incident involving a black bear that occurred on the northeastern-most island in the Beardslee Island complex in Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve, on June 24, 2008.  A single kayaker stopped on the beach for a snack and while eating noticed a large black bear feeding on vegetation about 15 feet away.   The bear suddenly noticed the person and charged the person to within 5 feet.  The bear was able to obtain a bag of beef jerky and a bag of trail mix that the kayaker had been eating.  The kayaker left without any further incident and no property damage was reported.

In order to deter this bear from obtaining food from people again, the National Park Service recommends that kayakers avoid cooking or overnight camping in the northern Beardslee Islands.  This advisory will expire on July 26, 2007. Campers are reminded to secure and protect their food properly and to report any bear encounters to the Visitor Information Station at 697-2627.