Those hoping to visit Anan Wildlife Observatory this summer between July 5 and August 25 can now submit their request to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
The USFS began accepting public requests to the popular bear-viewing site yesterday and will continue to do so through Feb. 29, said Keith Appleman, recreation, lands and wilderness staff officer for the Wrangell USFS District. Until yesterday, passes for the 2012 season were given to commercial guides who transport people to and from the observatory only accessible by boat.
The USFS grants a maximum of 60 passes each day to Anan during the peak-viewing season through July and August. Half of those daily passes were made available to the commercial guides during the pre-reservation period.
Now, however, members of the public can request one of the 18 passes currently available each day between July 5 and Aug. 25.
Sarah Bullock, USFS special uses administrator and sight supervisor at Anan, said unless members of the public request a day pass in advance, it is difficult to visit the bear observatory during the busy season. Passes go quickly, she said.
“They are highly sought after,” Bullock said.
The USFS does hold 12 daily passes for reservations made three days prior to the visiting date, Bullock said. However, she said some people have lived in Wrangell their whole lives and have not been able to visit Anan because of how quickly the passes go.
Appleman said it was important to get the word out to the public that they can now begin requesting the Anan passes. The passes are granted if there is no overflow of requests for a particular day, Appleman said. If there are more requests than the USFS has the allotted passes for, he said the requests are put into a lottery and picked at random.
The lottery will be held March 1, Bullock said, and the USFS will contact those who were chosen for the day passes.
“So they should know on March 1 if they were successful in getting their request,” she said.
Bullock asks those applying for passes leave a phone number or email the USFS can quickly contact them on that day.
All other requests to visit Anan outside of the peak-viewing period are granted on a first-come, first-serve basis.
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