Alaska's Kenai Peninsula is one of the most popular recreational destinations in the state visited each year by national and international tourists, in addition to resident Alaskans. Many visitors coming to the Kenai Peninsula are drawn to the area to fish the Russian River.

Archeological studies and oral history in the area of the Russian and Kenai rivers confluence show that Native Alaskans and early settlers used this ideal location for catching salmon for centuries.

The Russian River is a clear, shallow stream where anglers often target red (sockeye) salmon or rainbow trout. Similar to the rest of the Kenai Peninsula, brown and black bears inhabit this area, searching for food for themselves and their young.

Unfortunately, the food sources they often find are coolers full of lunches, stringers of fish and other sources of human-generated food. These food sources are often left unattended on the banks while anglers are catching their limits. Similar issues are also happening at other fisheries around the state such as Bird Creek.

At the Russian River, the most abundant and readily available human generated food source for bears during June and July is filleted fish carcasses. When whole carcasses are thrown into the river, they pile up, creating a concentrated food source which is irresistible to bears. The filleted carcasses collect at river bends, in slow-moving eddies, and are frequently tangled in monofilament line in the river. Gulls also drag whole filleted carcasses out onto the banks so they can feed on them.

These are the main human-generated food sources that begin the process of wild bears associating people with food, which can lead to human-bear conflicts.

It is critical to stop food-conditioning of bears. Associating humans with food can extend beyond the Russian River, potentially affecting other people within a bear's range. Bears that receive a food reward can become habituated to human-generated attractants and become a risk to public safety. Bears become nuisances by learning to approach and raid areas where food is not properly stored, reinforcing their association between people and food. Such bears can become dangerous to people and usually end up killed through management actions or in defense of life and property. In addition to public safety, future generations of bears and other wildlife will greatly benefit if visitors to the Russian River do a few important things.

1. Secure food, beverages, and other odiferous possessions (backpacks should be worn at all times, coolers should be attended or left in the car, stringers of fish should be kept in the water and closely attended).

2. STOP, CHOP and THROW filleted fish carcasses into deep, fast-moving water (prevent filleted fish carcasses from collecting along the banks of the river and attracting bears).

What to do with Food, Beverages, and Odiferous Possessions:

To prevent bears from thinking of your coolers, stringers of fish, and backpacks as an easy food source, keep them in sight and closely attended at all times. Instituted in 2006, federal land managers issued the "Russian River Possession and Storage of Food Items" emergency order and prohibited "possessing or storing any food or refuse farther than 3 feet from the person along the Russian River Angler's Trail developed recreation area and banks of the Russian River." The order will continue to be in effect throughout the 2007 summer season. To keep bears wild and anglers safe, not to mention to keep yourself from a run in with federal enforcement officers, you are encouraged to do your part this season and keep all possession with you (on your back) or leave them in your car. Fish stringers should be kept in the water and closely attended at all times.

What can you do with Filleted Fish Carcasses?

STOP and immediately cut the gills to bleed your fish into the water once caught.

Why? This minimizes fish blood on trails and river banks and is known to help the quality of the meat.

After filleting, CHOP up your fish carcasses into small pieces.

How many? Three pieces should be good enough to get them moving down stream.

THROW the small pieces into fast moving currents so they don't pile up along the river.

Who? If you don't want to, trust me, kids would love to help you out.

Remember to always STOP, CHOP and THROW when fishing at the Russian River.

When visiting the Russian River this season, also tune your radio to AM 1600 to hear important angler information including current weir counts, changes in bag limits, and river updates. You can also view an educational movie at the Russian River ferry station. Both projects were sponsored by the Kenai Brown Bear Committee, a group representing tourism, hunting, fishing and conservation interests as well as government agencies.

The Russian River continues to sustain indigenous cultures, the Kenai's modern economy, quality recreational experiences, and a diversity of fish and wildlife species. In order to protect the natural and cultural resources for current and future generations, collaborative efforts are paramount among the resource management agencies and diverse stakeholders. For more information or to get involved with partnership efforts, contact the USDA Forest Service at (907) 224-3374.

This information was submitted by Bobbie Jo Skibo who is the Russian River Interagency Coordinator.