Wrangell Sentinel -

Visitors to the Anan Wildlife Observatory could pay much more than the current daily $10 permit fee if a proposed increase is approved later this year.

The U.S. Forest Service recently proposed boosting the fee to $50 per person, per day. If enacted, the full amount would be phased in over the next four years, with the additional revenues helping to pay for work at the popular bear viewing site.

According to Erica Keene, media relations specialist for the Forest Service in Alaska, Anan has not had a fee increase since 2004.

“The revenue from the fee program allows us to better meet public expe...