Alaska state legislator chases bear away from fellow lawmaker outside state Capitol

By: James Brooks

Outlets: Alaska Beacon

Published: July 17, 2026

Words: 432

Last Updated: 1 day, 4 hours ago

Body Text Preview

Rep. Garret Nelson, R-Sutton, chased a black bear away from Rep. Julie Coulombe, R-Anchorage, in front of the Alaska State Capitol during a late-night encounter this week.

“It was a real safari night,” Nelson said on social media.

According to Coulombe, she was walking toward the Assembly Building, home to apartments used by legislators, when she saw the bear approaching her on Wednesday night.

“I am not good with bears. They freak me …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

About

FAQ

Email Us