Koch said despite the recent events, overall this year has been a relatively quiet year.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
[Bear encounters are on the decline after years of increased activity]<\/a><\/ins><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t This comes after two years of increased bear encounters in the Juneau area that necessitated multiple euthanizations because of safety concerns. This year Koch said Juneau has had 3-4 bears hit by vehicles, one of which died due to the impact.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t He said the most concerning occurrence that he has seen and wants Juneau residents to be aware of is the increasing activity of bears climbing into or opening unlocked vehicles.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t “Please remember to keep cars cleaned out,” Koch said. “Keeping them locked not only can prevent crime but also prevent bears from coming in.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t He said this occurrence is a relatively new phenomenon happening in Juneau over the past five years and speculated it could be because new car designs make it easier for a bear to open doors. He said it’s important for people to make sure they’re locking their cars and keeping vehicles free of food because bears can cause significant damage to both themselves and cars if they become trapped inside.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t “If they get stuck inside, they’re eventually going to find a way out — and it’s usually not by opening the door,” he said.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t He said another thing to be increasingly aware of as the summer progresses is bear activity will likely continue to increase the they start to transition into hyperphagia — their “last push to pack on calories” ahead of winter.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t A bear looks into the waters of Steep Creek on Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022. Some bears have looked for food in less natural settings, including cars, and wildlife officials say the activity is likely to pick up as the animals try to pack on the pounds ahead of the winter. (Ben Hohenstatt \/ Juneau Empire)<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t Hyperphagia typically runs from mid-August through to late September or October, and Koch said people should make sure they are doing preventative measures like locking their garbage, and livestock and removing any bird feeders or attractants that may bring bears into human-populated areas.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t “We live in bear country and you have to be aware all the time, none of us are immune,” he said.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.juneauempire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/30086299_web1_IMG_8197.jpg\")
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