Alaska Bear Viewing Etiquette

    Alaska Adventures Bear Viewing has a "code of ethics" and specific set of rules that all guides adhere to and we expect all clients to follow accordingly. Whether you are on one of our custom trips going out to brooks falls, or flying out to our exclusive bear viewing lodge on the Wild and Scenic Alagnak River in the heart of Katmai, you will be put through a safety speech that will include bear etiquette briefing.
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    Alaska Adventures has three basic rules about bear etiquette. The first is to always be aware of how our presence may affect the bear. We want to keep a distance from them not just because of safety, but also to help preserve the bears natural fear of humans. The second is not to surprise them, and the third is not to encourage them to see humans as a source of food. You know the saying that what you do may come back to bite you in the you know what? This holds ever so true when it comes to bear etiquette. Our actions and how they directly affect a possible outcome is played out in the truest form in nature and in bear country. Respect the environment around you accordingly and the safety and imminent protection of you and these animals will be preserved.

With permission from the Alaska Audubon Society
the following excerpt is taken from the book,
"Living In Harmony with Bears"
by Derek Stonorov.


    While viewing the bears there are certain do's and don'ts that allow us to get along with the bears. First and foremost we have to remember that we will be in the bears house and the cardinal rule is Do Not Interrupt The Bears Activities - we try very hard not to alter the bears behavior in any way, if a bear reacts to us we are doing something wrong. Bears are intelligent animals, they are often as curious about us as we are about them. We will position ourselves out in the open - visible to the bears, we won't approach bears but they often approach us - we hold our ground - it is important that bears don't learn to make people move. Human-habituated bears who haven't learned to associate people with food can be remarkably tolerant and rarely cause injuries.