Eagles, wolves & bears... oh my! Safari adventure with JBER Conservation Law Enforcement
Inside the Gates
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - The dozens of wildlife species that call Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson home can make driving through it feel like being on a safari.
But some days, those critters can make life on base a little hectic, especially the black bears.
“Bears will be bears,” JBER Conservation Law Enforcement Chief Officer James Wendland said. “We’ve got a lot of them that get into tipsters and dumpsters … bears are very quick to adapt.”
Black bears can be a “pawful” for Wendland’s team. He said that it seems they have even figured out when the delivery trucks come with groceries or pet food.
“Bears are probably the most intelligent animal I’ve ever dealt with,” he explained.
“We’ve got bears that have figured out how to open car doors and open doors to get into housing.”
Bears aren’t the only critter you might spot on JBER. The base is also home to 39 species of mammals and over 160 species of birds, including porcupines, lynx, and bald eagles.
See a spelling or grammar error? Report it to web@ktuu.com
Copyright 2025 KTUU. All rights reserved.
