Safety in Alaska (Anchorage, Fairbanks, Ketchikan: crime rate, find a job, high schools)

[AKcurious]

am planning to move to Alaska, but its going to be a journey that takes a few years. I have to graduate, find a job, and visit Alaska several times before I can commit.

I do have 2 questions. the first is how safe is Alaska, specifically anchorage, when it comes to wildlife? If you are in the heart of the city, am I correct in assuming a random bear attack has a zero chance of happening? what about Juneau or Fairbanks? will wild life like deer and moose wonder close by the city limits or is it not uncommon to see animals roaming around in populous places. I know that sounds like a dumb question but I am curious

also, which parts of anchorage are dangerous as far as crime? any particular areas that should be avoided?

[AK76]

Moose roaming the city, even downtown are common, yes they can be downright ornery, especialy during the winter months, and are particularly protective of their calve's. Just give them respect and ample space and all is well. Bears are common on the outskirts of town and are sited further in on ocassion, some parks and the greenbelts are other areas that bears may frequent, regardless, the best bear deterent is being aware and alert wherever you are. In general, being attacked by wildlife in Anchorage proper is not of concern, but Anchorage is the largest city in the U.S. geographically
speaking, that menas that there are vast portions that are city proper but are parkland or "wild", people have been mauled to death by bears in the past while hiking popular trails in the Chugach park which abut the Municipality of Anchorage.

The areas of Anchorage with the highest crime rate is generaly associated with the NE areas, Mountain view, Fairview and Airport Heights.

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by AKcurious

am planning to move to Alaska, but its going to be a journey that takes a few years. I have to graduate, find a job, and visit Alaska several times before I can commit.

I do have 2 questions. the first is how safe is Alaska, specifically anchorage, when it comes to wildlife? If you are in the heart of the city, am I correct in assuming a random bear attack has a zero chance of happening? what about Juneau or Fairbanks? will wild life like deer and moose wonder close by the city limits or is it not uncommon to see animals roaming around in populous places. I know that sounds like a dumb question but I am curious

also, which parts of anchorage are dangerous as far as crime? any particular areas that should be avoided?

Alaska, in general, is not a safe place to live. Nobody moves to Alaska to be safe.

Moose stompings and bear maulings are annual events. I remember one year during the mid-1990s Anchorage had 2 bear mauling deaths, 3 moose stomping deaths, and 4 deaths by other humans. The wildlife was killing us off faster than we were!

We have had bears inside high schools and grocery stores.

Police chase scavenging black bear out of Bartlett High | Anchorage | ADN.com


Bear cub in grocery store Ketchikan, Alaska - YouTube

The only members of the deer family in Anchorage or Fairbanks are moose and caribou. Moose are so large that they fear nothing and go where ever they please. You will find moose everywhere in Anchorage. They will be in your drive-way or your backyard. A six-foot tall chain link fence will not stop them.

Then there are the wolves. Both Anchorage and Fairbanks are regularly plagued with wolf attacks during the winter months. Typically the wolves go after domesticated pets, like dogs, because they are easy prey. I have only read about one wolf attack against a human, killing them, in the last 20 years. Which leads me to believe that wolf attacks against humans are a rare event.

If the wildlife do not get you, the weather or mother nature may. In addition to earthquakes occurring on a regular basis (the majority of the world's largest earthquakes have occurred in Alaska), Anchorage is within 100 miles, and downwind, of two very active volcanoes (Mount Spurr and Mount Redoubt, both have erupted in the last 25 years), and several more that are not as active.

Anchorage is not a safe place to live.

When it concerns crime in Anchorage, the areas you want to avoid are Fairview Area, Mountain View, Muldoon Area, and Spenard Area: Anchorage Areas

[akpls]

If you're scared of animals it's probably best just to stay wherever you are.

[Dakster]

Talk about really fresh meat at the grocery store.

Now if Momma Bear would have heard that cry...

[Harrier]

Alaska is populated by human beings.

Anywhere that human beings are present will not be safe.

[szug-bot]

and they ruin things. how can alaskan cities not be crime free. i as myself - what the hell do people want that they can refrain from harming someone, or stealing from them, or damaging something?

[jdhpa]

Originally Posted by szug-bot

what the hell do people want that they can refrain from harming someone, or stealing from them, or damaging something?

I'll just offer an observation, which is that people who are busy doing something constructive don't do much that's destructive. Destructive behavior can be minimized by ensuring people have something constructive to do, especially once they've shown they're willing to be destructive.

[Metlakatla]

There are things that you can do to minimize bear attacks in Anchorage. Most of these seem to happen while the victim is enjoying outdoor exercise of some type. If you run or bike for exercise, stay away from wooded trails, especially in the spring. Bears interpret rapid movement in their direction as "charging behavior" and will act accordingly; mother bears with new spring cubs are most likely to attack.

People will give you all sorts of advice on firearms, but your best defense against bear attacks is your brain.