Visitors take caution. A brown bear sow accompanied by three yearling cubs has lunged at cars and people along the Chilkoot Corridor and Lutak Spur Road this week.
Tim McDonough, chair of the Upper Lynn Canal Fish and Game Advisory Committee, said he witnessed the sow charge cars on the road on Saturday.
McDonough watched as two cars drove past while mom and cubs were on the beach side of the road.
“The sow charged up on the road and looked around and was very agitated when the car went by,” McDonough said.
Later that night, the bear charged a woman standing near her car. The woman jumped in the car before the bear could reach her.
Pam Randles of the Alaska Chilkoot Bear Foundation said the sow could be new to the area or new to emerging in daylight.
Randles said she and a Fish and Game wildlife biologist have heard reports of the sow swatting her cubs and trying to push them into the forest away from people.
“Mama bear is trying to keep three teenagers under control,” Randles said. “The cubs need to learn to be a little bit more careful around people.”
She said foundation volunteers have been asked to talk to visitors about what to do in a situation with an aggressive bear.
Randles warned homeowners in the area to minimize “attractants” like trash outside.
She also suggested making noise or banging pots and pans when bears get close.
Fish and Game also has electric fences and Critter Gitters – motion sensors that beep and flash – available to loan. Call for help or use bear spray in emergencies, Randles said.
For visitors to the Chilkoot area, Randles said “try to be as patient as possible and give her space.”