SITKA, Alaska (AP) – A bear rescue operation in Sitka is planning to expand its facilities to accommodate an increasing number of visitors.

The Fortress of the Bear, run by Evy and Les Kinnear, has grown to become a popular tourist attraction in

recent years. The couple is looking to purchase the

property at the Gary Paxton Industrial Park that it leases to expand its bear rescue operations and add new facilities and programs, The Sitka Sentinel reports.

A priority for the Kinnears is adding more space for visitors to view the animals. The

observation deck, which sits above the bears’ enclosur...