A brown bear spotted in the Icy View neighborhood north of Nome is raising concerns from residents over the safety of their families and property. Alaska Department of Fish & Game is aware of the situation, but as of Wednesday afternoon does not have plans to remove the animal from the area.
Brynn Parr with ADF&G said the department was aware of a bear that had been spotted in the area for nearly a month. She said most sightings came between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
“It does seem like the bear is becoming more curious and starting to walk through people's properties and the streets of Icy View,” Parr said.
Parr said attractants like trash, muskox hides or even motor oil were likely luring the bear into the area.
A video from a Ring doorbell camera owned by Trisha Parker showed a bear nosing through property in the Icy View neighborhood. The bear ran away after being startled by a loud motorcycle.
Similar videos and screenshots posted to the Nome Post Facebook group have drawn comments calling for the bear’s removal by ADF&G or Alaska State Troopers. Some individuals have offered to shoot the animal themselves.
While shooting big game like bears typically requires a permit, there are carve outs in ADF&G’s regulations for acts of self-defense. State regulations require any bear taken in self defense to be reported within 15 days and the skull must be removed from the carcass along with the hide and claws and submitted to ADF&G.
Doing so would also kick off an investigation from Alaska State Troopers. Parr said if authorities found an attractant near where the bear was shot, it could be grounds for a fine.
Parr said the department didn’t have any active plans to hunt the bear as of Wednesday afternoon, and instead was taking a more proactive approach.
“We don't want to take an animal's life if it can be avoided. So yes, we would like to try to do everything we can to get the animal to move on,” Parr said.
Parr said efforts within the department were ramping up to send out bear safety public service announcements. In the meantime, she encouraged residents to consider putting their trash out the morning of their pickup days and move any potential attractants to a safe location.
