



Practice bear safety

Practice bear safety

The bears are out of hibernation — at least a few are.

For Ketchikan, that's a sure sign of spring.

With the bears comes danger when bears and people mix.

To avoid such encounters, it is recommended that people take steps to remove bear attractants.

Bears like garbage. People should keep it inside buildings and bear-proof containers, and secured until garbage-pickup day.

Bears like barbecues — or the aromas that emanate from them. Clean barbecue grills regularly.

Bears like livestock, for example chickens, goats and the like. Secure them from bears. Livestock and pets' food should be stored inside garages and in containers to befuddle bears.

Bears like bird feeders; move them out of bears' reach. And bears like gardens. Gardeners in bear country should plant away from bear paths, use only raw vegetable matter for compost and turn the compost over frequently.

Ketchikan welcomes spring and all that comes with it. But, it doesn't want to see bears causing problems. The solution is in how people prepare for spring and bears.

Let's help bears to stay out of trouble; let's clean away bear attractants.