Number of human-bear conflicts growing across Alaska

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Wildlife experts are calling this summer one of the busiest years of bear encounters they have seen.

Biologists believe that poor berry crops and struggling salmon are motivating the hungry bears to wander away from the woods and go into towns, the Anchorage Daily News reported.

Recent incidents include a black bear taking over the Juneau arboretum and another bruin that shut down a fish-cleaning facility.

A rise in the numbers of young black bears may also be contributing to the growing total of human-bear conflicts, biologists said.

Humans also add to the problem by...