Wildlife biologist Don Young said the trapper told him, "The bear was standing there. It was kind of defensive of the bait buckets."
By the time Young arrived to investigate, the bear was gone. The tracks it left in the snow led Young to believe it was a lone bear that weighed between 300 and 500 pounds.
The trapper was the only one to see the bear, but his neighbors have seen the grizzly's tracks in their yards.
"Like everybody, we're aware of it," resident Andy Greenblatt said. "We don't let the kids run around."
Young was surprised to see a bear out at a time when they are normally hibernating.
"This has been an unusual year. It's been real warm. I suspect that has something to do with it."
Another resident of the area, Cheyanne Fleury, was also taking precautions. "It isn't a good time to take a walk," she said, "and it's been just so beautiful out."
-- Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
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