Rangers killed an aggressive black bear in Kenai Fjords National Park on Tuesday morning, the National Parks Service announced in a press release.
The NPS received a report that the bear was threatening the safety of park visitors on the Harding Icefield Trail near Exit Glacier. Park rangers located the bear and hazed it, but the bear didn’t retreat.
According to the release, rangers were forced to kill the animal because they were concerned for the safety of park visitors.
Park rangers continued on the trail and escorted two uninjured hikers off the path so they could close it. It has now been reopened.
The Kenai Fjords National Park plans to donate the bear to charity so its meat can be salvaged.
The NPS wishes to remind the public to take special precautions while recreating in bear country. It is essential that people make their presence known, travel in groups, give bears space and the opportunity to avoid groups, properly stow food and garbage, and carry bear repellent.
Reach reporter Camille Botello at camille.botello@peninsulaclarion.com.
