Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Wildlife topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Assembly hears residents' concerns about increased bear activity, borough outlines enforcement and prevention steps
Summary
Multiple residents raised concerns about recent bear activity in town during public comment; borough manager and police chief described interagency coordination, shortage of bear straps and a public-education campaign to secure garbage.
Concerns about increased nuisance bear activity in Petersburg were raised at the borough assembly meeting on July 21.
Resident Gloria Ann Wallen told the assembly she is a mother and expressed concern for children and residents on Sandy Beach: “Garbage once they’re a garbage bear, they’re always a garbage bear,” she said, and asked that the assembly direct the borough manager to work with the police chief and other enforcement partners to address the issue. The clerk and borough manager reported a spike in recent complaints and said the borough has run out of bear straps (straps meant to secure trash containers) and has ordered more.
Chief Jim Kerr and Manager Giesbrecht described coordination with the Alaska State Troopers and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Chief Kerr said there appear to be roughly four problem bears exhibiting learned garbage-foraging behavior and reported an injured bear the department asked be dispatched. Chief Kerr said borough officers cannot unilaterally dispatch or trap bears without coordination and permission from the Troopers and Fish and Game; the borough is monitoring reports and notifying state partners through an email notification list.
The manager said the borough has started a public-service campaign in the local paper reminding residents to secure garbage as required by borough code, and that 75 straps previously on hand have been exhausted; additional straps have been ordered. The assembly encouraged continued coordination with state agencies and the police department to reduce the risk of human-bear conflicts.
Why it matters: Increased bear activity and bears defeating secured containers raise property-damage and public-safety concerns, particularly when children are present. The borough’s options are constrained by state authority over wildlife removal and require interagency coordination.
Next steps: Borough staff ordered additional straps for garbage containers, started a public-education campaign and will continue to coordinate with Alaska State Troopers and Fish and Game; the assembly encouraged the manager to continue outreach to state partners.
