Brown Bears (Ursus arctos) in the Arctic

Observation by Sharon Nayokpuk:

Brown bears, this is the first time in my life there have been bears coming on our island, they came to our island during the night. One bear ran right through town around 1 am and before anyone could get it, it ran off the island. The night before, in dark, 3 bears crossed the channel, must have been waiting for night, but, a bunch of guys got on a boat & scared them away.

Comments from LEO Editors:

According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game's Brown Bear Species Profile, brown bears (Ursus arctos) are like humans in that they are very adaptable and consume a wide variety of foods. These can include salmon, berries, grasses, roots, moose, and caribou. House pets and improperly stored food and garbage can also attract bears to homes and camp sites. Additionally, brown bear habitat in Alaska spans nearly the entire state, with the exception of some islands in Southeast, the Aleutians, and the Bering Sea. Therefore, while perhaps uncommon, it is not impossible to see them in Shishmaref. See the Species Profile for more extensive information and this link for safety tips.