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sitka
The nearby city of Sitka includes all of Baranof Island as
well as part of Chichagof. In other words, Sitka is bear
country. One of the area’s most popular attractions is
a non-profit bear sanctuary dedicated to rescuing and
raising orphaned cubs. Les and Evy Kinnear founded the
sanctuary in 2002 with a mission to “provide protection
and care to rescued animals in an enriching, educational
environment”. They named it Fortress of the Bear.
Les had spent 25 years as an Alaska master guide in Sitka,
20 years with the United States Forrest Service, and
6 years on the Sitka Fish & Game Advisory Committee,
so he knew a thing or two about the area. He found the
perfect spot to build Fortress of the Bear, and secured
the use of an abandoned pulp mill’s wastewater site.
Almost any other use of this land would require the costly
demolition of the huge water treatment tanks that existed
here, however, Les planned to incorporate them into
the bears enclosures as water features. This idea was a
clever and strategic first step toward building a successful
sanctuary as this would not only enhance the environment
for the bears, but also significantly reduce the cost of the
land since it was not particularly desirable to anyone else.
Les had to clear over 500 tons of old mill equipment
and infrastructure from the site and build the enclosures,
security systems and facilities to prepare food and
perform veterinary procedures. Once the facility was up
and running, Les and his wife Evy raised huge hogs in
the sanctuary in order to qualify for the necessary state
permits to take in bear cubs. It took over 5 years to get
the permits approved, but in July of 2007, their dream was
realized. They gained approval from the state and received
their first bear cub.
Over the years, Fortress of the Bear has rescued and
raised numerous bear cubs that would have either died
in the wild or been euthanized by the Alaska Department
of Fish and Game. The bears are fed a well-rounded
diet consisting of fresh fish from the nearby seafood
processing plant and produce from the local markets. In
addition to regular veterinary checkups all the male bears
are neutered upon arrival to prevent breeding. Most of
the bears remain permanent residents at the sanctuary,
but a few have been placed in zoos as well. The ultimate
goal is to work with the state to create a program where
rehabilitated bears can be released back into the wild.
Visitors to the site are treated to an unforgettable,
educational encounter with the chance to observe both
brown bears and black bears from as close as 25 feet
away. An elevated, covered viewing platform provides a
safe and unique vantage point of these majestic creatures
as they swim, play and feed. Fortress of the Bear offers
group tours that last about 30 minutes with time to take
pictures and learn from the knowledgeable and dedicated
staff. The newly constructed visitor center offers
refreshments and a charming gift shop full of unique items
and local art to commemorate your visit. So, if you are
ever in Sitka, make sure to stop by and meet the bears and
the wonderful folks that run the facility.
John Lashbrook is the multifaceted owner and operator of PixelWorks
(pxlwrx.com). Based in Florida, he’s traveled through North
America and as far east as Asia, carrying with him a passion for
fishing, excellent creative work, and hilarious standup.
Fortress of the Bear does not receive any government funding and relies solely on
support and donations from local businesses, visitors and merchandise sales. With a disruption
of cruise visitors to Alaska in summer 2020, donations are greatly needed. You can even help
through shopping online at Amazon.com, including donating wish list items and funds.
Visit www.fortressofthebear.org to learn more.