A sign warns visitors about a recent bear sighting near the Russian River on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017 near Cooper Landing, Alaska. Bears frequent the area, a highly productive sockeye salmon fishery and one of the most popular sportfisheries in the state. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

A sign warns visitors about a recent bear sighting near the Russian River on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017 near Cooper Landing, Alaska. Bears frequent the area, a highly productive sockeye salmon fishery and one of the most popular sportfisheries in the state. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Look out for bears at Russian River

As salmon crowd into the Russian River, so do the people — and the bears.

A black bear was spotted at the Russian River Falls on Sunday afternoon, fishing for salmon. Food-conditioned brown bears were spotted near the U.S. Fores Service’s campground recently, according to signs posted around the Russian River trail and campground.

Late-run sockeye salmon are steadily making their way up into the river system. More than 1,000 salmon have passed into Lower Russian Lake every day since Aug. 1, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s data. A total of 18,188 sockeye have passed through Fish and Game’s weir on the lake, with a little less than a month to go in the run.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Visitors and photographers crowded around the pools at the base of the Russian River Falls on Sunday to observe the salmon making an attempt to jump up the falls, as they do every year. However, bears also fish in the falls area, and the chances of an encounter increase when the salmon are present.

The U.S. Forest Service, which maintains the trail and campground, recommends visitors and campers keep their food either in a solid camping unit or in a backpack no more than three feet away. Anglers should keep any fish they retain no more than 12 feet away, and if possible, take fish out whole rather than filleting on site.

Reach Elizabeth Earl at elizabeth.earl@peninsulaclarion.com.

Sockeye salmon mill in the pools at the base of the Russian River Falls before making an attempt to ascend the falls on their way to spawn Aug. 6, 2017 near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Sockeye salmon mill in the pools at the base of the Russian River Falls before making an attempt to ascend the falls on their way to spawn Aug. 6, 2017 near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

A diver waits in the middle of Russian River Falls with a camera to capture the milling sockeye salmon making an attempt at ascending the cascading falls on their way to spawn Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017 near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

A diver waits in the middle of Russian River Falls with a camera to capture the milling sockeye salmon making an attempt at ascending the cascading falls on their way to spawn Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017 near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

More in News

Vice President Kelly Cooper speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Borough considers seasonal sales tax rate

Borough sales tax would be modified from a flat 3% to a seasonal model of 4% in summer months and 2% in winter months.

The Kasilof River is seen from the Kasilof River Recreation Area, July 30, 2019, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
King salmon fishing on Kasilof closes Thursday

If any king salmon is caught while fishing for other species, they may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

Un’a, a female sea otter pup who was admitted to the Alaska SeaLife Center in June 2025, plays with an enrichment toy at the center in Seward, Alaska. Photo courtesy of the Alaska SeaLife Center
SeaLife Center admits 2 seal pups, 1 orphaned otter

The three pups join the Alaska SeaLife Center’s ‘growing’ patient list.

James Wardlow demonstrates flilleting a salmon with an ulu during a smoked salmon demonstration, part of Fish Week 2023, on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Refuge to celebrate all things fish during weeklong event

Fish Week will take place July 16-19.

President Zen Kelly speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
School board finalizes budget with deep cuts to programming, classrooms

Multiple members of the board said they were frustrated by the state’s failure to fund education.

Former KPBSD Finance Director Liz Hayes speaks during a Kenai Peninsula Borough School District budget development meeting at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
School district finance department earns national awards

The two awards are based on comprehensive reviews of the district’s budget and financial reporting.

Children leap forward to grab candy during a Fourth of July parade on South Willow Street in Kenai, Alaska, on July 4, 2025. (Photo courtesy Sarah Every)
Celebrating the 4th in the streets

Kenai comes out for annual Independence Day parade.

Fire crews respond to the Bruce Fire, July 4, 2025, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Alaska Division of Forestry)
Firefighting crews respond to wildfire outside Soldotna

The 8-acre fire and two “spot fires” of less than one acre each are located near Mile 102 and 103 of the Sterling Highway.

Most Read

You're browsing in private mode.
Please sign in or subscribe to continue reading articles in this mode.

Peninsula Clarion relies on subscription revenue to provide local content for our readers.

Subscribe

Already a subscriber? Please sign in