Haines police officer Brayton Long shot a female bear on Highland Drive this week and police later cited the resident for an unsecured compost pile that created an attractant.

The sow was not the same bear the Alaska Department of Fish and Game gave police permission to kill last week. Fish and Game give permission to the Haines Police last week to kill a sow and two cubs that had been causing property damage. Scott said no further details would be released until the police report is completed.

“It’s going to take some time for the problem to be solved,” police chief Heath Scott said of bears in town that have been habituated to garbage such as the sow. “It didn’t happen overnight. It’s education, some enforcement, and some wildlife management too.”

Community Waste Solutions drew bears to its facility in past years, but the landfill has become more secure since new management took over last year. Scott said increased bear activity in town is likely a result of CWS taking proper precautions. Bear activity increased last fall after poor pink runs. The borough created a bear task force to address the issue.

The Alaska State Troopers cited one resident last year, according to court records. Tuesday’s citation was the first by Haines Police since increased bear activity occurred last fall.

“I think by and large we’re doing the right thing,” Scott said. “We have a difficult situation with wildlife that has been habituated.”

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