August 13, 2007
Monday PM

I was extremely saddened tonight as I drove out to Herring Cove to watch the bears. I have been going there for a number of years, as the salmon returning to the hatchery attract the bears and the eagles. It has been an awesome place to view nature at its finest from the road system. The south side of the upper cove has been closed to the public of Ketchikan now for a couple years, unless you want to pay the $20.00 for a guided tour and, oh yeah, only on Sunday at 2 p.m. for locals. So I've moved to the north side of the cove to watch the animals. Well, that was until this time. Tonight I drove out with my four year old daughter to the cove and found that it is all strung with ribbons and rope and signs saying "private property no tresspassing."

I don't know what, if anything, has caused this action, but to say the least, it is very disappointing to see one of the few viewing areas of this kind closed to the point where it is no longer viewable unless you want to be one of the "Local" $20.00 group. My daughter had a hard time understanding why she didn't get to see the bears tonight.

I don't understand what the harm is in standing in a vacant lot on the side of the road where there are no houses, and watching and taking pictures of the wildlife. I have never seen anyone being rude or loud in all the times I have been there. I know my children have all enjoyed watching the animals that they don't get to see every day. As for the other side of the cove, I guess the dollar signs say it all!!!!! I'm just sorry to see it go.

Jeff Hendrickson
Ketchikan, AK

Received August 11, 2007 - Published August 13, 2007

About: "41 year Ketchikan born and raised resident."

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