Anchorage Biologists Hunt Remaining Bear Cub
Officials are searching for an 80-pound brown bear cub after euthanizing its mother for posing public safety risks.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Wildlife
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Should officials euthanize wild bears that wander into residential areas to ensure public safety?
Alaska Fish and Game biologists are currently searching for a brown bear cub that remains at large in the Anchorage Hillside area. The state decided to euthanize the animal's mother and siblings due to learned behaviors involving access to human food sources and property damage.
Why it matters
The state considers these specific bears an unacceptable public safety risk because they learned to associate garages and human structures with food rewards. Wildlife officials prioritize relocating or managing bears that have lost their natural fear of people to prevent dangerous human-wildlife encounters.
The remaining brown bear cub weighs approximately 80 pounds. Residents are asked to report any sightings of the animal by calling 907-267-2179.
The players
Alaska Fish and Game
This state agency is responsible for the management, protection, and regulation of fish and wildlife resources across the state of Alaska.
Alaska Zoo
Located in Anchorage, this facility serves as a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation and care of animals native to Alaska and the Arctic.
The details
The search centers on the Rabbit Creek corridor, where bears previously damaged garage doors and attempted to enter homes. While biologists have successfully captured and relocated one sibling to the Alaska Zoo, they are actively working to locate and secure the final cub in the group.
Timeline
The sow and her cubs began accessing trash in the Hillside neighborhood over a month prior to September 22, 2026.
The third bear cub remained at large as of September 21, 2026.
Culture Shift
This management action follows the established protocols for mitigating safety risks caused by habituated wildlife. It highlights the ongoing challenge of maintaining human-wildlife boundaries as residential development continues to expand into natural bear habitats.
Residents in the Rabbit Creek and Hillside areas should secure all trash containers and ensure garage doors are kept closed to prevent attracting bears. Those who spot the remaining cub should immediately report the sighting to authorities rather than attempting to approach the animal.
The takeaway
Wildlife experts remind residents that food conditioning is a learned behavior that often results in the need for lethal management to ensure human safety. Keeping attractants like garbage and pet food secured is the most effective way to prevent bears from becoming dangerous to the community.
Further reading
For more information on living alongside local animals, visit the Wildlife section.
Live Poll
Should officials euthanize wild bears that wander into residential areas to ensure public safety?
