Tongass Nat'l Forest

NOPE AWARD - Volverine #AnanBearAwards It took a minute for Volverine to notice Bullseye standing right behind her, but when she saw him, she said, “Nope!” Typically, black bears won't go near brown bear areas. But abundant food sources at Anan make these interactions common.

The harvest moon was beautiful over the Petersburg Ranger District last night. It will be even better over the Tleikatánk Hít Cabin! Open to the public in early 2027, the "Huckleberry House" is an ABA compliant cabin on a forested beach shoreline with scenic views.

BIG & BEAUTIFUL AWARD - Volverine #AnanBearAwards Volverine is a true icon who strikes a pose & stays there extra long for photos. She is regarded as one of the most beautiful bears at Anan, and thanks to solid fishing skills, she finished the season one of the largest too.

ANNOYING SIBLING AWARD - Nugget #AnanBearAwards Ever heard the expression “don’t poke the bear?” Nugget hasn’t. Luckily, Crescent was more forgiving than most other bears. Well managed ecosystems on national forests provide unique opportunities to witness scenes like this.

Bears don’t usually sit in the falls while eating. But watching this bear gnawing on a salmon under rushing waters, we’re wondering if it might catch on – like the ursine equivalent of a shower beer. No mess. No need to move to fish. He may be on to something. #AnanBearAwards

Celebrate the season with our FREE pumpkin carving stencils featuring Smokey Bear, Woodsy Owl, and spooky bats! Download, carve, and share your love for the forest and all who protect it. Happy Halloween & have fun carving! Link to stencils: buff.ly/Faa9Saa

Arrow has always been fearless. He received a leg injury after a fight with Tatonka in 2019 & still walks with a limp. But that hasn’t dampened his inner spirit, which seems to be a honey badger. This year, Arrow backed down two different brown bears. #AnanBearAwards

Erika Schaubach and Julia Spofford accepted the Partnership and Cooperative Federalism Award for the Tongass Visitor Centers Partnership project at the 2025 Chief’s Awards Ceremony October 15, 2026, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Left to right: Regional Forester Jacque Buchanan/Southeast Alaska Discovery Center Director Erica Schaubach/Associate Chief Chris French/Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center Asst. Director Julia Spofford. (Forest Service photo by Crystal Young)

The partnerships with Tlingit & Haida in Juneau and Cape Fox Cultural Foundation in Ketchikan expanded access, improved programming and incorporated indigenous culture at the two popular visitor centers.

A Helicopter Mom "hovers" overhead & tightly controls a kid's activities. Gemini fit this mold because she rarely brought her cubs out for us to see! We understand the risk of being around other bears at a prime fishing spot, but hope we see them more next year. #AnanBearAwards

INTROVERT AWARD - Nugget #AnanBearAwards For much of the season, Nugget could be seen wedged between rocks by the lower falls. You could also find him perched on a rock waiting for his turn to fish in the lower falls hierarchy; afraid to assert his dominance in the crowd.

Forest Service leadership recently joined Sitkans to celebrate Pacific High School’s new learning shelter. Young-growth timber from the Tongass was finished by a local mill, moved on the Alaska Marine Highway, & built by local contractors. #NationalForestProductsWeek

With the patience and nonchalance of the “Dude,” Paul chose kindness over combat when his fish were stolen. The abundance of fish at Anan Creek made defending his catches a waste of energy. So, Paul abides, because fishing is more rewarding than fighting. #AnanBearAwards

THANK YOU for your continued interest in the world's largest, intact temperate rainforest! And thank you for sharing that interest with your friends.

There’s a party in this bear’s behind and the invite list looks long. Seeing bears with a tapeworm is not uncommon at Anan but seeing one bear with multiple long tapeworms … yikes! Nature isn’t always pretty. #AnanBearAwards

Dory had 2 cubs this year, but half the time you wouldn’t know she was a mom. She earned her name from the forgetful blue fish in Finding Nemo & she lived up to it. Our Rangers were tempted to call Child Protective Services for how often those cubs ended up alone! #AnanBearAwards

Forest Products Week 2026 Spotlight: Nanocellulose! What happens to small diameter waste wood from forests? Research at the Forest Products Laboratory is finding new and innovative ways to transform these materials into nanocellulose products. #ForestProductsWeek

This little furball is one of Osso’s cubs, and it stole our Rangers’ hearts. It looked like it wanted to play hide and seek but couldn’t fully grasp the concept. Our Rangers were glad the cub was bad at the game, because it meant they saw it more. #AnanBearAwards

Yakutat Ranger Nate Catterson, delegated by the Federal Subsistence Board, is closing the 2026 Federal subsistence moose season for Unit 5A west of the Dangerous River, except the Nunatak Bench, effective Oct. 17, at 11:59 p.m. Learn more: buff.ly/TplLqmH