The Chugach National Forest has closed a portion of the Iditarod National Historic Trail due to aggressive brown bear activity.

The area closed is from the Meridian-Grayling trailhead and the Mile 12-Divide trailhead in the south to the intersection of the Iditarod National Historic Trail and Lost Lake Trail in the north. Alicia King, public affairs and partnership staff officer with Chugach National Forest, wrote in an email there is caution tape and warning signs across all three trailheads.

King wrote the aggressive bear activity is a sow with a cub, possibly on an animal kill.

The closure order went into effect Monday and will remain in effect until July 1, unless it is rescinded earlier.