– Although the World Wildlife Fund does not list brown bears (Ursus arctos) as endangered, their numbers in Alaska are dwindling, primarily due to legal hunting practices. Popular hunting locations like Cold Bay and the Izembek Refuge Area are known worldwide for trophy brown bears. Adding to the threat is the Willow Project by ConocoPhillips, an oil-drilling initiative first greenlit by the Trump administration in 2020. This project, focused on petroleum extraction to lessen U.S. oil imports, poses another significant challenge to the survival of Alaska’s brown bear population.
