Deterring Bears from Work Areas and Facilities

Bears are an important component of Alaska's ecosystems and are greatly valued by the public. Nonetheless, every year people and bears come into conflicts that sometimes result in injury or death. It is incumbent upon public employees to attempt to avoid these incidents. The Bureau of Land Management's Northern Field Office oversees more than 60 million acres of land in 5 administrative units in interior Alaska. Bears inhabit almost this entire area. Because land management activities require BLM personnel to spend time in remote areas of interior Alaska, it is necessary for them to exercise practices that deter bears from permanent and temporary work areas and campsites. This document describes practical techniques to secure such areas to help avoid confrontations between BLM employees and bears.