Authorities step up efforts to separate tourists from bears in Haines, Alaska

At the Chilkoot Rivernear Haines, Alaska, it's not uncommon to see people fishing, tourists taking photosand grizzlybearsall standing in close proximity.

Sue Folletti has seen people get a little too close.

"When the fish run heavier, there's a lot of traffic. Alot of people want to see the bears when they're showing," she says.

Folletti owns aninn overlooking the river and says she's seen some questionable bear-viewing over the years. Oncesomeone walkedbetween a bear and its cubs to take photos.

"It runs about as close to stupidity as I can come to," she says.

"I feel like people don't pay attention to many safety measures. Many people get way too close. There arebear monitors out therebut a lot of times people won't listen to them. It gets dangerous every once in a while but nobody's been hurt,yet."

The borough ofHaines is trying to address the problem.

Leslie Ross, tourism director with theHainesConvention and Visitor Bureau says the borough hashiredsomeone to help with bear safety. The measure is partly a reaction tostate budget cuts, which have meant fewerParkRangers in the area.

"The Haines borough has funded an additional person to be at the Chilkoot,just to help monitor these conditions and to make sure people aren't getting too close, thatpeople aren't parking in the wrong areas," she says.

Ross says so far the grizzlies haven't shown signs ofaggression, as theyseem to befocused on finding fish. However the presence of visitors is a concern.

"It's probably the most accessible bear-viewing area anywhere in Alaska. You can just drive up and watch a bear feeding in the river, so there's constantly concerns and efforts to make sure that visitors aren't getting too close to the bears," saysRoss.

New bear-viewing platformscould be built as early as this fall or next spring.