Always carry bear spray when you're in areas with known wildlife activity. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
On the trails of Anchorage, most of the time you won't encounter a moose, let alone a bear. If you do, it's unlikely they'll attack you. However, wildlife is unpredictable, so there's always the possibility a bear or moose will act aggressively toward you. Therefore, it's important to be prepared.
According to The Alaska Frontier, "Alaska makes up over 29% of bear attacks in the United States. This makes Alaska the most likely state to be attacked by a bear."
Whenever you spend time outside in Alaska, there's a chance you'll encounter a bear or moose. This means you should have a plan whenever you head out the door.
"There is no single strategy that will work in all situations," the National Park Service states on their website. However, "following some basic guidelines may help to lessen the threat of danger."
There are different guidelines depending on what animal you encounter. First, let's talk about bears.
The first step to avoiding a bear encounter is being aware of your surroundings. Before going somewhere, you should check if the area has known bear activity.
If the area does have known bear activity, bring bear spray with you. According to the National Park Service, bear spray can be "used defensively to stop an aggressive, charging, or attacking bear."
You can also travel with a bell, which will let bears know you're in their space.
Stay alert when you get to the area. You should regularly scan your environment and keep your eyes peeled for bears and other wildlife.
If you do see a bear, don't do anything that will startle it. This includes screaming or running.
You should gently make the bear aware of your presence. The National Park Service recommends that you "identify yourself by talking calmly so the bear knows you are a human and not a prey animal."
Once the bear is looking at you, try to make yourself look big. Slowly wave your arms around. If you were biking, pick up your bike and hold it in the air. If the bear stands up on its hind legs, don't be alarmed. This typically means the bear is curious, not threatening.
Continue to talk to the bear and make yourself big as you move slowly sideways. According to the National Park Service, "most bears do not want to attack you; they usually just want to be left alone."
If the bear starts to follow you, don't run. Stop where you are and continue to talk to it until it loses interest in you.
Lastly, if you see a female with cubs, be extra cautious. Stay far away from the cubs and don't put yourself between the mother and her cubs. "The chances of an attack escalate greatly if she perceives you as a danger to her cubs," the National Park Service states.
Just the thought of running into a bear is scary, so it's important to do the necessary things to keep yourself safe. Remember, never run from a bear or do anything to make it feel threatened. This includes yelling at it, approaching it or throwing things at it.
Handling moose is a whole other story, though.
While a bear encounter is scary, moose injuries are more likely. "When people don't see moose as potentially dangerous," writes the National Park Service, "they may approach too closely and put themselves at risk."
Moose are a common sight in and around Anchorage. In fact, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, there's "approximately 200-300 in the [Anchorage] area year-round, and about 700-1,000 moose in the winter."
If you see a moose, but it doesn't see you, don't bring attention to yourself. Give them plenty of room and head the other direction.
If the moose has spotted you, talk softly to it and back away slowly. "Don't be aggressive – you want to convince the moose that you aren't a threat," says the National Park Service.
If you notice the moose's ears are laid back and its hair is standing up, it's probably about to charge you. In this case, you should run and get behind something solid.
According to the National Park Service, moose "usually won't chase you and if they do, it's unlikely that they'll chase you very far." Run until you're a safe distance away from the moose.
Like bears, females with calves are especially dangerous. Be extra careful if calves are in the area and don't get between them and the mother.
If the moose happens to knock you over, don't fight back. You should curl up into a ball, cover your head with your arms and stay still. Don't move until the moose is a safe distance away from you.
For both bears and moose, it's less likely you'll encounter them if you're traveling in a group. Try to avoid going into areas alone with known wildlife activity.
If you are alone, remember to bring your bear spray and a bell. And keep a lookout for wildlife while you're in the area.
Hopefully, everyone can head out into the wilderness and feel confident about their safety with these tips.
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