I’m sorry Mr. Motes felt “embearassed.” Years ago, there were not bears to be seen along the Chilkoot River because bears were shot on sight.

For 20 years, there have been bears to view and bear viewing has become a very popular and profitable activity. If it weren’t for the bear safety zone, they would randomly pop out to cross the road. The safety zone, which Mr. Motes called “the invisible bear buffer zone,” has seven signs telling people not to stop and not to enter when bears are present. The reason the Parks and Fish and Game staff, and the certified volunteers are there is precisely because people don’t honor the signs.

Most bears don’t come out when numbers of people are present. This year, food for the bears is scarce, so they are risking feeding when people are present. I say risking because, if anything bad happens, the bear is always killed, even if it is the human’s fault. Those bears need to eat enough to last them and their cubs all winter. If they don’t, they will die. That will decrease bear viewing. The bears have learned they are relatively safe in the safety zone. Watch sometime. The bears know where the white lines are. They respect them. So should we.

It is not a perfect system, but it is what we have. I apologize for any rudeness by Bear Foundation volunteers.

Pam Randles

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