Grizzly Bears Filmed High On Alaskan Mountainside

Alaska in often considered America’s last untamed wilderness, with over 90% of the state being made up of public land. Around 65% of the state is federally owned and managed, and another 24.5% is owned by the State of Alaska. With that much publicly owned and protected land (not all of it is protected, but a lot is), it makes plenty of sense that the state is known for its vast amount of wildlife.

There are a lot of iconic animals found in Alaska, from enormous moose in the forests to the orcas found in the coastal waters. The moose is the state’s animal, but there are plenty others that could compete for the most famous in the region. For example, Alaska is the only state home to all three species of North American bears, including black bears, polar bears, and grizzly bears.

There are an estimated 30,000 grizzly bears throughout Alaska. In the spring, they’re typically found on low elevation south-facing slopes and in riparian forests and wetlands searching for early green vegetation and moose, but they’ll still occasionally be spotted in the mountains. Outdoorsman Peter Wadsworth spotted these two grizzlies high on the slopes of Harp Mountain just 2 days ago on April 14th.

Harp Mountain, located inside Chugach State Park, is often considered one of the easier 5,000 foot mountains to hike in the area. It stretches to 5,001 feet, and while it features some pretty steep elevation gain (2,500 feet in 1.5 miles) it features very little scrambling. Of course pretty much no matter where you’re hiking in Alaska, following bear safety guidelines is absolutely necessary.

The most important rule is to always give bears plenty of space. Don’t set up camp too close to a trail or road they might use, and give female bears extra space. When hiking or recreating in the wilderness, make noise (sing or talk loudly) to avoid surprising any bears, hike in groups, walk with the wind at your back, and avoid thick brush whenever possible. Never feed bears, make sure you store food and garbage properly so they can’t access it, and remember that odorous items such as toothpaste, toiletry items and even gasoline should be stored away from campsites and in a way that they can’t access it. Read below on what to do if you see a bear in the wild.

Alaska Department of Fish and Game Bear Guidelines:

If you see a bear, avoid it and give the bear every opportunity to avoid you. If you do encounter a bear, remain calm and try to observe what the bear is doing. Chances are good you are not in danger. Most bears are interested only in protecting food, cubs or their “personal space.” Once they feel there is no threat, they will move on. Remember the following:

If You See a Bear

• If the bear appears not to have sensed you, move away without alerting it. Keep your eyes on the bear.
• If the bear does notice you, face the bear, stand your ground and talk to it calmly. Let the bear know you are human. Talk in a normal voice. Help the bear recognize you. Try to appear larger by standing close to others in your group or wave your arms slowly above your head. Try to back away slowly, but if the bear follows, stop and hold your ground. Prepare your deterrent if you have one.
• If a bear cannot tell what you are, it may come closer or stand on its hind legs to get a better look or smell. A standing bear is usually curious, not threatening.
• If you take the above actions and the bear continues to focus on you or approach, you should become more assertive: raise your voice, beat on pans, use noisemakers, throw rocks or sticks. Use your deterrent if you have one. Drive a bear off rather than let it follow you. If you are with others, group together to look big and stand your ground.

Surprise Encounters

• If you surprise a bear at close distance, it may feel threatened and act defensively, especially if it has cubs or food. Continue to stand your ground. If the bear moves away, walk away slowly, keeping your eyes on the bear. Increase your distance.

Never Run

• You can’t outrun a bear. Bears can run much faster than a sprinter and, like dogs, they will chase fleeing animals. A charging bear might come within a few feet before running off. It’s important to stand your ground.

Read more on bear safety in Alaska here.

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• Alaska
• Wildlife