Fortress of the Bear — Attraction in Alaska

I visited the Fortress of the Bear in Sitka, Alaska, and I was amazed by the work they do to rescue and care for orphaned bear cubs. The Fortress of the Bear is a non-profit bear refuge and education center that was established in 2003 by Les and Evy Kinnear. They converted two large concrete enclosures that were formerly used by the Alaska Pulp Company into natural habitats for the bears. They currently have eight bears in their facility, four brown bears and four black bears.

The staff at the Fortress of the Bear are very friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. They gave me a guided tour of the facility and explained the history and mission of the organization. They also shared stories about each bear and their personalities. I learned a lot about bear behavior, biology, and conservation. I also got to see the bears up close and watch them play, eat, and interact with each other. The bears looked healthy, happy, and well-adjusted. They had plenty of space, enrichment, and stimulation. They also had a pool, a waterfall, and a den for each enclosure.

The Fortress of the Bear is not only a sanctuary for the bears, but also an educational resource for the community. They offer programs for schools, groups, and visitors to learn more about bears and their role in the ecosystem. They also collaborate with other wildlife organizations and agencies to promote bear awareness and advocacy. They rely on donations, grants, and admission fees to support their operation. They also have a gift shop where you can buy souvenirs and support their cause.

I had a wonderful time at the Fortress of the Bear and I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves animals and nature. It was one of the highlights of my trip to Alaska. The Fortress of the Bear is a unique and inspiring place that shows how humans can coexist with wildlife in harmony. Thank you, Fortress of the Bear, for your dedication...

We debated whether to go or not, "I've seen bears in the zoo, it's just another zoo."

A lady who overhearing my comment in McDonald's said "Oh, but you haven't been there!"

She went on to share that she had lived for years in Sitka and the Fortress of the Bear was a special place "The story is what is so moving for me, orphaned bears are usually euthanized - the owners really have such a heart for the bears to go to this effort to save them, and to give them such abundant and healthy environments."

We would also learn that the "fortress" was once a pulp mill, giant concrete cylinders were an eyesore and a pain point for Sitka.

This place has re-purposed these as a safe, clean, and generously-sized home for the bears that have lovely big pools of water to swim in, and things to climb.

I only wish we could be here end of July or August (or maybe Sept?) - bear-care team will add live salmon to the water and the bears will actually fish them out and...

My first thought when entering the viewing area was “this is it?” While I had expected more of a zoo-like complex with different locations and a wide variety of bears to see, I was instead greeted with two large areas with 5 brown bears total and one smaller (albeit still very large) fenced in area with 3 black bears. I was initially disappointed with the “fortress,” but I quickly found that the bears themselves more than made up for the lackluster facility. They were active and fascinating to watch.

I can excuse a steep entrance fee in support of a noble cause such as this one. However, I noticed that although I stayed for over an hour, most people left after about half an hour. I can’t promise that this stop will be worth it for everyone, but if you like animals and want to observe some of the less common and more dangerous ones in close proximity, I would suggest giving Fortress of the Bear some...