Bear Shot at Academy, Others Prowl in Sitka

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Category: News

Created on Monday, 04 November 2024 15:48

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By Sentinel Staff
A brown bear that reportedly showed aggressive behavior and “continued lack of fear toward humans” was killed Friday afternoon by authorities near the Alaska Public Safety Academy, troopers said.
Wildlife troopers reported receiving a call from police that a bear bluff-charged a man walking on Indian River Road Friday near the intersection with Sawmill Creek Road. The man made it to safety when a driver stopped for him.

A brown bear crosses the SJ Campus near the Yaw Art Center building Friday afternoon. Likely the same bear was seen shortly after on the nearby grounds of the Public Safety Academy on Sawmill Creek Road where it was killed by law enforcement. (Photo by Grace Fujimoto)

A short time later the bear appeared at the training academy and remained near a large group of recruits engaged in outdoor training scenarios, the trooper daily dispatch report said. SPD called troopers at 3:48 p.m., troopers said.
“Based on the animal’s aggressive behavior and continued lack of fear towards humans, the bear, a young male approximately 400 pounds in weight, was killed on the grounds of the Academy by law enforcement officers from AWT, the DPS Academy, and the Sitka Police Department,” troopers said.
The dispatch report said evidence from the necropsy showed the bear had been feeding on human garbage.
The bear’s skull and hide with claws attached were turned over to Alaska Department of Fish and Game, troopers said.
Sightings of other bears were reported to the police and troopers and posted on the Sitka Bear Report page since Friday.
At midday Friday a bear was reported on the SJ Campus; at 10:46 p.m. Saturday residents told police about bears in the 2800 block of Halibut Point Road. At 7:49 a.m. Sunday a bear was reported on Cascade Creek Road and another at 10:50 p.m. Sunday on Ross Street. At 12:56 a.m. today two bears were seen in the 100 block of Jeff Davis Street.