Anchorage, Eagle River, Girdwood Residents Reminded To Protect Livestock As Predator Incidents Escalate

The following is courtesy of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game:

Secure Poultry and Livestock to Keep Neighborhoods Safe

June 18, 2025 (Anchorage) – In recent years, an increasing number of Anchorage, Eagle River, and Girdwood residents are raising poultry and other small livestock at home. However, people aren’t the only ones with an interest in these backyard dwellers. Many species of wildlife, including bears, may be attracted to the sights, smells and sounds that come with them. Even livestock in urban areas need to be adequately protected for their safety, and the safety of the surrounding community.

The Department of Fish & Game has received multiple reports of brown bears accessing, or attempting to access, livestock in Hillside neighborhoods. ADF&G is investigating these reports as brown bears may defend food sources and can become a serious public safety threat. Securing livestock and poultry helps keep bears out of neighborhoods and reduces the risk of bears coming into close contact with people.

Of the options available to help protect livestock, electric fences are one of the best tools to have. Properly constructed electric fences can keep bears out of gardens or compost, and away from buildings, chicken coops, and other animal enclosures.

There are several things to keep in mind when selecting and setting up an electric fence to exclude bears:

• The best fence setup consists of five strands. The bottom, middle and top strands are positive, and the other two are negative. A grounding rod should be used. The positive and negative strands should not touch each other.
• The energizer needs a minimum of 1 joule of output power.
• The fence must be regularly maintained and free of plants and other debris to work correctly.
• Check previously installed fences with a fence tester frequently to ensure they are still working.When electric fences are set up correctly with the correct energizer, they are very effective at keeping bears and other wildlife away from livestock. More videos and guides on how to set up and maintain your electric fence can be found online at https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=livingwithbears.bearfences

If you have any brown bear encounters or sightings, please call the Anchorage ADF&G office directly at 907- 267-2179, or report online at https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=reportwildlifeencounter.main. If the situation involves an immediate public safety concern, call 9-1-1.