Fortress of the Bear

Overview

Alaska contains approximately 98% of the brown bear population in the United States, with an estimated 30,000 living in the state. Despite the incredible number of brown bears, Alaska has no official bear rehabilitation program for orphaned cubs. Fortress of the Bear Rescue Center near Sitka, AK stepped in to protect these animals, and continues today as a rescue and rehab facility.

About Fortress of the Bear

At Fortress of the Bear, volunteers and employees work together to provide a safe, healthy environment for bears that would have otherwise been killed in the wild. Set against the Tongass National Forest just outside of Sitka, Fortress of the Bear is a non-profit organization, and their facilities house both brown and black bear that have been rescued and rehabbed. Many of our Sitka wildlife tours visit Fortress of the Bear.

Getting There

The Fortress of the Bear is just a short distance from downtown Sitka:

By Car or Taxi: The sanctuary is located about 5 miles from downtown Sitka, roughly a 10–15 minute drive. Taxis and rideshares are available.

Tours: Many Sitka excursions include the Fortress of the Bear in their itineraries, often paired with the Alaska Raptor Center or Sitka National Historic Park.

Walking/Biking: For the more adventurous, walking or biking to the sanctuary is an option, though it can be a bit of a trek.

Highlights

Close Encounters with Bears: The sanctuary is home to several rescued bears, including brown bears (grizzlies) and black bears. Raised viewing platforms provide a safe but close vantage point to watch the bears interact, play, and forage in their spacious enclosures.

Educational Presentations: Learn about the bears’ stories, the challenges of conservation, and the sanctuary’s mission through engaging talks from the knowledgeable staff.

Photography Opportunities: Capture stunning photos of these magnificent animals against the scenic backdrop of Sitka’s wilderness. The bears’ naturalistic enclosures are designed to mimic their wild habitats, making for incredible shots.

Conservation Efforts: The Fortress of the Bear works to raise awareness about Alaska’s bear populations and the challenges they face due to habitat loss and human conflict. Your visit helps support these important efforts.

What to Do at Fortress of the Bear

Bear Viewing: Spend time on the raised platforms watching the bears interact with each other and their environment. Each bear has a unique personality, and observing their behavior is a fascinating experience.

Interactive Education: Engage with the staff to learn about the sanctuary’s rescue efforts, bear biology, and conservation challenges. The personal stories of each bear bring the experience to life.

Nature Appreciation: Take in the surrounding scenery, including the lush forests and mountains that make Sitka such a special place.

History

Fortress of the Bear is a three-quarter-acre habitat opened in 2007 by Les Kinnear, and it is one of only three facilities in Alaska approved to hold, train, and disburse bears. Although it is illegal to release rehabbed bears into the wild in Alaska, the rescue center opened with a mission of rescuing orphaned brown bear cubs, restoring them to health, and providing a lifetime of safety and enrichment.

With six brown bears and three black bears as permanent residents, the center has plans to expand to serve more orphaned cubs and to work towards their goal of coordinating with the Alaska Fish & Game Department to develop a program for releasing rehabbed bears.

Interesting Facts

At Fortress of the Bear, you can do more than just observe bears in a natural-design habitat—you can learn all about the bears themselves, the mission of the rescue center, and what you can do to help protect and support the goal of rescuing and releasing orphaned bear cubs.

Fortress of the Bear has sent bears that they have rescued and rehabbed to Bronx Zoo, the International Exotic Animal Sanctuary, and the Montana Grizzly Encounter.

Only Alaskan coastal brown bears live in Sitka or on the ABC islands of Alaska—there are no native black bear populations.

All of the bears that currently reside at the center were orphaned at a young age.

The state of Alaska euthanizes orphaned bear cubs due to state law preventing release of rehabbed bears, but the rescue center is working to save them from this fate.

Bears at the center are not fed at a regular time to mimic a natural feeding schedule, and live salmon are released into the pools during the salmon run for the bears to catch their dinner.