I did my grad school in Alaska, and spent time around Nome where there are
muskoxen (my study subject), reindeer, and brown bears.
Depending on where F.W.'s son is going, there could be either brown bears or
polar bears. We always carried a shotgun for bear protection. Some people
like slugs in a shotgun, some like buckshot. The bear must be very close
before you shoot.
Depending on how long F.W.'s son is there the bears may not put in an
appearance. Polar bears are more dangerous. I've never seen a free-living
polar bear, they don't occur around Nome.
Our only interaction with a brown bear ended happily, with a sow and her 2
two-year-old cubs, approaching to check us out, then deciding that we were
dangerous (which is exactly what we were thinking about them - we were 2
people standing on a mountain-side - with one shotgun and bad nerves) and
she led those cubs at top speed straight up a mountain and over the top,
never to be seen again.
I hope your son has a wonderful adventure.
cheers, Ann in Vermont
