News Release

Bear Advisory for Fingers Bay Area, July 13 – August 10, 2022

Date: July 13, 2022
Contact: Wendy Bredow, 907-697-2230
Contact: Tania Lewis, 907-697-2668

BARTLETT COVE, ALASKA – This notice is to inform visitors of a Bear Advisory in the Fingers Bay area of Glacier Bay due to two separate incidents involving a brown bear. On July 9th, a party of six hikers on the northeast shore in North Fingers Bay was charged by a brown bear. The group was able to deter the bear by deploying bear spray and yelling. On July 12th a brown bear approached a party of two camping on the northeast shore in South Fingers Bay. The campers retreated in their kayaks. The bear remained onsite and destroyed their camping equipment. The group was picked up by a nearby vessel then brought back to Bartlett Cove by the NPS. No food was reportedly obtained by a bear in either situation. It is not known if both incidents involved the same bear or two different bears.

Please avoid or be very cautious recreating on the shore of North and South Fingers Bay, and report any negative bear interactions to the Visitor Information Station. Visitors are advised not to camp in this area, to stay alert, and to keep control of gear at all times to reduce the potential for human-bear conflicts.

Campers are reminded that bears range widely throughout Glacier Bay National Park and that human-bear conflicts can occur anywhere. Two important keys to minimizing the potential for conflicts include storing food and attractants properly and keeping control of gear and property at all times as well as being prepared for bear encounters. Please contact the park’s Visitor Information Station (907-697-2627 or 907-697-2495) for the most current information regarding bear incidents, and to report all bear encounters.

This advisory will remain in effect until August 10, 2022.