Visitors to the U.S. Forest Service Anan Wildlife Observatory are limited July 5 to Aug. 25, with 60 permits each day set aside for guided tours, while four other slots each day are designated for last-minute, independent visitors.

“These permits are for people with their own means of transportation (without a hired service) and must be requested in person at the Wrangell Ranger District, up to one week in advance,” the Forest Service reminded the public in an announcement on June 13.

Applicants for the permits must fill out a form at the front desk at the Wrangell office on Bennett Street, and everyone listed on the form “must be physically present at the time of request (except for family members).”

The Forest Service said requests for the limited number of independent-visitor permits will be collected each week on Mondays at 4:30 p.m. and awarded on Tuesdays by noon. “If several requests are for the same day, a lottery for awarding reservation space will be held on Tuesdays at 9 a.m.”

And if there are any permits left over, “requests will be accommodated on a first-come, first-serve basis through the front desk, during regular business hours,” which are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

Permits to visit Anan are $20 per person this year, up from $10 in previous years as the Forest Service increases the rate by $10 every year until it gets to $50. The additional revenue is to help with management and maintenance expenses at the popular site.

The agency advises people interested in a guided trip to Anan — or independent travelers with their own transportation — to check at the website recreation.gov to see what days have permits available.