Visited: September 2026 | Sitka, Alaska
There were a lot of things I hoped to see in Alaska.
Bears were obviously high on the list.
What I didn't expect was for a bear sanctuary to become one of the places where I most wanted to spend my money.
Fortress of the Bear is a nonprofit bear sanctuary and educational center just outside downtown Sitka. If you're visiting on a cruise like we were, you don't necessarily need to book a big shore excursion to get here. We took a quick cab ride from town and visited independently. (TIPS BELOW)
These Bears Were Supposed to Die
This was the part I didn't know before visiting.
When a bear cub in Alaska is orphaned, you might assume it can be rescued, rehabilitated and eventually released back into the wild.
That's not how it works.
Alaska does not currently have a legal rehabilitation-and-release program for bear cubs. Without another approved place for an orphaned cub to go, euthanasia may be the outcome.
And that's how Fortress of the Bear began.
The founder had spent years as a hunter and wilderness guide before his perspective on bears changed. When he learned what happened to orphaned cubs, he decided there had to be another option.
In 2003, work began to transform enormous abandoned clarifier tanks from Sitka's former pulp mill into habitats for rescued bears. The sanctuary received its first permit in 2007, and its first orphaned cub arrived just days later.
Today, those old industrial tanks have become naturalistic habitats where bears that otherwise may not have survived get something entirely different:
A life.
The Cubs Didn't Choose This
Every bear living at Fortress of the Bear was orphaned when it was young.
That's the part that got me.
These aren't bears that someone decided would be fun to put on display for tourists.
Many arrived as cubs because something happened to their mothers. They were too young to survive alone, but they also couldn't simply be raised and released back into the Alaskan wilderness.
Fortress of the Bear gave them another option.
Some rescued bears have been placed with other accredited zoos and sanctuaries, while the current resident bears will spend their lives here.
We saw both brown bears and black bears, and visitors watch them from elevated viewing areas while learning about their histories, personalities and behaviors.
But I think knowing why they're there completely changes the experience.
You're not just looking at bears.
You're looking at bears that almost didn't get to grow up.
Ohhhh the Gift Shop...
I think I purchased something for practically everyone I know.
And I'm not even sorry.
There are plenty of places in Alaska where I could buy another souvenir.
But this is where I prefer to spend my money.
Fortress of the Bear is a nonprofit, and 100% of the proceeds from merchandise purchased through its official store go back toward supporting the sanctuary and its resident bears.
So yes, I bought the gifts. (Even a handprint from one of the bears)
Probably too many gifts.
But if I'm going to spend money on vacation anyway, I'd much rather have some of it help feed and care for an orphaned bear.
Should You Visit Fortress of the Bear?
For me, this one's easy.
Yes.
It's not a huge attraction that requires half of your day. It's relatively easy to reach from downtown Sitka, and that makes it especially nice if you're visiting on a cruise and only have a few hours in port.
But go knowing the story.
Knowing why the bears are there turned this from somewhere I went because "I want to see bears in Alaska" into one of the most meaningful stops of our trip.
Sometimes tourism can actually help keep something good going.
This is one of those places.
TIPS FOR VISITING:
- Reserve tickets ahead of time
- Don't be late
- Taxi's aren't always sitting at the port and many don't have a 'taxi' looking vehicle so have phone numbers of taxi places with you incase you need to call for a cab. They come in about 10 minutes.
Please consider donating → https://www.fortressofthebear.org/
