Wildlife viewers crowding bears, congesting traffic

State biologists are concerned about wildlife viewers creating problems with their pursuit of black bears out Glacier Highway.

A couple bears have been spotted feeding near the bypass at Auke Rec and further out near Peterson Creek.

Ryan Scott with the Department of Fish and Game says drivers have been stopping on the highway near the bears. There’s also been at least one report of a vehicle’s occupants feeding bears through a window. Scott notes that it is illegal to feed the bears.

He advises that wildlife viewers to give the bears plenty of space and don’t crowd them, approach them, or chase them. Scott also suggests that drivers park their vehicles safely off the road instead of stopping on the highway. And use binoculars or a long camera lens like a telephoto to view bears or take pictures from a distance.

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