A section of Indian to Girdwood Bike Path reopened
State Park implemented temporary closure due to bear activity

By Ken Smith Turnagain Times

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS

Photo Courtesy of Linda Herr These three juvenile brown bears have been roaming around the Bird Creek area including the mudflats. The bears are around three years old. Bear encounters on the Indian to Girdwood bike path closed a portion of it by Bird Point for over two weeks. It reopened June 26.

Ken Smith/Turnagain Times A portion of the Indian to Girdwood Bike Trail was closed for more than two weeks from June 17 to June 26 due to several brown bear encounters near Bird Point. The sign stated that anybody using the trail in the closed portion would be subject to a $100 fine. A one-mile stretch of the trail was closed until Chugach State Park officials declared it safe. The park superintendent said the trail could be closed again if bears return.

Chugach State Park reopened a portion of the Indian to Girdwood bike trail that had been previously closed in the vicinity of Bird Point due to brown bear encounters with hikers and bikers. The trail was reopened, Thursday, June 26 around 4 p.m. But park officials say it can be closed again if any further bear encounters take place that may be dangerous to trail users. Earlier in the month, a mountain biker told the Times that he saw three juvenile brown bears about three years old crossing a portion of the trail near Milepost 96 on the Seward Highway. He said several bikers stopped next to him as they waited for the bears to cross the trail and head into the thick brush on the hillside. The mountain biker said he turned around rather than tempt fate that day, but he said the other bikers proceeded forward. Park officials decided to close the trail June 17 to look for a moose carcass in the area, which could create a scenario where a bear would be protecting its catch and pose a danger to unsuspecting hikers or bikers. However, no carcass was found in the area reported between Mile Post 96 to 97. There’s been different reports from different people,” said Tom Harrison, Chugach State Park Superintendent, “and there could be three or more bears in the area, but they haven’t been demonstrating any aggressive behavior.” Harrison said that there’s been multiple sightings of brown bears between Girdwood and on the mudflats all the way up to the state park campground located in Bird across from the Essential gas station. “We closed the trail because of poor visibility in that part of the trail,” he said. “Because you just don’t want to surprise a brown bear, that’s not a good thing. The reality is there’s bears all along there. But there was no reports of aggressive behavior.” The one-mile stretch of trail was opened due to the lack of any observed or reported aggressive brown bear behavior during the week prior to its reopening. Both black and brown bears may be encountered anywhere along the Indian to Girdwood National Recreation Bike Trail. All park users are advised to exercise due diligence whenever traveling in bear habitat. Trailside brush clearing began on Friday, June 26 in the Bird Point vicinity and at various locations along the bike trail to improve visibility. “We really ask everybody, all people, wherever bear habitat is even on the bike path down by the road, to be bear aware to try to minimize bear conflicts,” said Harrison. “Where you have an area where there’s not a lot of visibility make a lot of noise.” Harrison added that next year is the 40th Anniversary of Chugach State Park, and there’s only been two deaths from a bear attack in the park’s 40-year history. The incident occurred back in July of 1995 when a bear attacked two hikers from Anchorage on the McHugh Creek trail. Marcie Trent, 77, and her son, Larry Waldron, 45, died from injuries received from a bear attack. Their bodies were found about 30 yards from a buried moose carcass. There have been many bear sightings this spring and early summer in the Bird Creek area. Through various sources, all residents of Bird, who spoke to the Times, there are an estimated nine bears in the vicinity. A large browny has been seen walking down Powerline Road in the Bird Creek neighborhood. A couple of large brown bears have been seen in the area, along with the three juvenile brown bears around three years of age. In addition, there is a large black bear that this reporter saw walking through his backyard last week, shortly after brining in some freshly smoked salmon. The bear is about 400 pounds. A sow black bear with two cubs has also been seen in the neighborhood, and a car on the Seward Highway hit a young black bear last week while crossing the road between the Essential Gas station and the Birdhouse Garage. The bear was seriously injured and continued across the road into the woods, but has not been seen since.