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Alaska is proud of its bears. Three different kinds live there: the Black Bear (Ursus americanus), the Brown Bear (Ursus arctos), and the Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus). The most common is the black bear and the least frequently seen is the polar bear. The brown bear is also known as the grizzly bear or the kodiak bear and is generally regarded to be the most dangerous, but any bear can cause trouble for a human if provoked. These are large animals. An adult male black bear can easily weigh 200 pounds, an adult male brown bear can approach 1,000 pounds, and an adult male polar bear can top 1,200 pounds. The best advice is to observe bears from a distance.
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Born on October 12, 1929, in Portland, Oregon, Patsy Ann arrived in Juneau in the household of a Juneau dentist named Keyser, but soon went out on her own. She served as the "Official Greeter of Juneau Alaska" in the 1930s. She was a deaf pure bred bull terrier that somehow knew when the next cruise ship would arrive in port. She was also a favorite with Juneau's businesses and was a frequent guest at the local bars and hotels where her friends ensured that she was well fed. Most nights she could be found at the Longshoreman's Hall. She was of such importance that the mayor gave her diplomatic immunity from the need to have a collar and city license. No matter the weather, when she decided that a ship was due to arrive in port she would break into a fast trot and head for the wharf to greet it. She became famous as passengers looked forward to seeing her and invariably give her treats and lots of loving attention. On one occasion it is said that the crowd waiting for the ship to arrive gathered at the wrong pier. Patsy Ann ignored the gathering and greeted the ship at the correct pier. She died in her sleep on March 30, 1942, and was buried in the Gastineau Channel in front of her wharf. Her statue was done by sculptor Anna Burke Harris of New Mexico and was placed on the wharf in 1992.
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