Welcome to the second installment of Wildlife Roundup. The intent of this column is to provide Juneau residents updates on wildlife activity in the Juneau area and general interest wildlife information.

• Local Black Bears: Black bear activity in Juneau continues to be steady with bears being sighted across town from Thane to Echo Cove. A substantial number of calls are coming from the area between Tee Harbor and Peterson Creek. The first reports of black bears in the downtown area and on Douglas were received last week. Many of the calls ADF&G are receiving are simply reports of bears in the area, but some involve bears getting into garbage and bird feeders, and even a hummingbird feeder. Residents are reminded to remove all attractants from their home and to secure household garbage in a bear resistant container until the day of pick up. In addition, any spilled bird seed, trash from the winter, etc. should be cleaned up and disposed of.

• General Wildlife Hazards: ADF&G has received several calls concerning traffic congestion caused by motorists stopping on the side of the road to view wildlife, especially black bears. Please do not loiter in the area if a deer or bear is feeding along a road. This can create an unsafe traffic situation, and may alarm the animal which may move or run into traffic.
As vegetation emerges and ripens, black bears and deer have become more visible adjacent to local roads. Motorists should keep an eye out, especially early in the morning and at night, for animals feeding near the road as they may cross the road creating a hazard to motorists.

• For additional information, please contact the Douglas Area wildlife Office at 465-4359.