Alaska’s largest city is nearing completion of a public art installation aimed at raising awareness of the grizzly and black bears that live nearby.
Thirteen colorful, life-size fiberglass bears have been installed around Anchorage as part of “Bears on Parade.” More are being completed.
Brenda Carlson is one of the organizers and a member of the Anchorage Bear Committee, dedicated to bear conservation in the city.
She says the point of the statues is to spark conversation about bears, what they eat and where they live. Organizers also had hoped the statues would be in place for a conference of bear scientists earlier this summer.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game says the municipality is home to as many as 65 brown bears and 350 black bears.
