Page 64 - Breath of the Bear

Wrangell to the Tongass National Forest. Upon
landing, groups are met by a U.S. Forest Service
representative who instructs everyone on the
rules, trail conditions, safety and bear activity.
The talk includes valuable instructions such
as, “Stay on the trail, don’t give up the trail to a
bear, and in order not to have bears associating
humans with food, there is absolutely no food
allowed on the trail.”
Guided tour operators then escort the group
on the 1/2 mile trail to the observatory. Until
it was recently revamped, the trail consisted
of wooden planks smaller than a sidewalk, as
well as natural terrain. There were also over 300
the season, however, Anan Creek seems most before winter hibernation. There are a very stairs from the Anan trailhead to the observatory
suited to the black bears. small number of permits set aside for individual deck, which was completely replaced for
people and those can be purchased through the 2022 season. The photo blind at the bear
“I haven’t conducted an official study on this,” www.recreation.gov beginning February 1st observatory is also accessed through a stairway
said Galla, “but the black bears seem to have a or through a weekly lottery from the Wrangell that is the equivalent to three stories tall. Once
fishing strategy. They like the small crevices and District Office. at the observatory, visitors will be enthralled at
deep waters of the creek and tend not to plunge seeing bears in their native and natural habitat
into the water and sit down like brown bears.” “It’s very difficult to roll into Wrangell these fishing, eating and lounging only feet away,
days and expect to go to Anan,” said Eric Yancy offering priceless, once-in-a lifetime photo
Getting to the wildlife observatory requires from Breakaway Adventures. “With the limited opportunities.
a boat or float plane and a permit, which are number of permits, we start booking the
regulated by the U.S. Forest Service with only previous November and within a few months These tour operators are based out of
60 permits given out per day from July 5th- we already have dates that are sold out.” Wrangell and give tours to the Anan Wildlife
August 25th. Most permits are allocated to Observatory:
experienced tour operators such as Breakaway Beside the issuing of permits, there are other
Adventures, Alaska Charters and Adventures, advantages to visiting Anan with an experienced Breakaway Adventures
Alaska Vistas, and Alaska Peak and Seas, all guide. Tour operators out of Wrangell employ Alaska Charters and Adventures
located in Wrangell. The Anan Management local guides who are familiar with the area Alaska Peak and Seas
Plan limits the amount of visitors during the and are able to give their customers a rich and Alaska Vistas
salmon run out of respect for the bears, as in-depth experience. Tours include guides, Tight Line River Tours
this is their main food source used to bulk up the permits and an hour-long boat ride from

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