Bears

Goals

• To foster collaboration between scientists, wildlife managers, ecotourism industry, and artists
• To educate the public about bear populations, management, and living in bear country
• Focusing attention on the bears of the Lower Cook Inlet region: Brown Bears (Ursus arctos) and black bears (Ursus americanus)

Project Timeline

• Community-wide presentations will be held between Fall 2015 and Spring 2016 focusing on local bear populations and current research in our region.
• The Pratt Museum invites Alaskan artists to participate by producing original new artwork for exhibition from May 6—July 31, 2016.
• Artists are requested to submit their intent to participate or notify exhibit Curator Scott Bartlett of their intent to participate by 1 March, 2016. Please include expected dimensions at this time. Limit 1 submission per artist.
• The culminating exhibition will feature selected content from the preceding presentations on bear populations, and new work by Alaskan artists in response.

Artist and Community Resources

In addition to guest speaker presentations at the Pratt Museum, the following resource may aid artists in developing idea for new works of art

• Species Profiles
  • Black Bear species profile (Alaska Department of Fish & Game)
  • Brown Bear species profile (Alaska Department of Fish & Game)
• Population Estimates
  • Kenai Brown Bear Population (Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, USFWS)
• Parks and Reserves
  • Bears in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve (NPS)
  • Bears in Katmai National Parks and Preserve (NPS)
  • McNeil River State Game Sanctuary (Alaska Department of Fish & Game)
    • McNeil River Viewing Permits
• Bear Tours
  • Tour Providers (Homer Chamber of Commerce listing)
• Bear Safety
  • Bears and You (Alaska State Division of Parks & Outdoor Recreation)
  • Living With Bears (Alaska Department of Fish & Game)
  • Bear Safety in Alaska’s National Parks (National Park Service, PDF)

• Hunting
  • Brown Bear Hunting (Alaska Department of Fish & Game)
  • Black Bear Hunting (Alaska Department of Fish & Game)