Hibernating bears waking up in the Anchorage area

[April 23, 2013]  ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- Hibernating bears in the Anchorage area are waking up from their winter slumber -- and they're hungry.

Alaska Department of Fish and Game wildlife biologist Jessy Coltrane says black bears have been spotted near Far North Bicentennial Park in recent days. And more should be leaving their dens this week.

Coltrane on Sunday addressed a couple of dozen people at the Eagle River Nature Center for a presentation on living and recreating in bear country. She says just about all of Alaska's biggest city can be considered bear habitat.

Coltrane says now is the time for people to clean up their yards to remove anything that will attract hungry bears. And she encourages people who have chickens to install an electric fence to keep bears out.

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Information from: Anchorage (Alaska) Daily News, http://www.adn.com/

[Associated Press]

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