ALASKA BEARFEST INC - A 501-3(c) grassroots nonprofit dedicated to educating all about BEARS.
PO Box 934 Wrangell, Alaska 99929
​fun@alaskabearfest.org
​Copyright © Alaska Bearfest. All rights reserved.
Alaska Bearfest

USFS  ANAN  MANAGEMENT TEAM

Eric Johnston 

​Eric is in his sixth year at Katmai National Park, where he serves as a Bear Management Technician and Team Lead. Before joining Katmai, he spent five years working in bear management at Yellowstone National Park.

Since 2013, Eric has dedicated his career to working with bears across national parks, nonprofit organizations, and state wildlife agencies. His work focuses on helping people and bears safely coexist while promoting effective wildlife stewardship and conservation.

In addition to his work with bears, Eric conducts bald eagle research throughout Wyoming, Montana, and Alaska. He is currently leading field efforts in Katmai, capturing bald eagles for mercury and lead analysis to better understand environmental contaminants and their impacts on wildlife.

Eric is also a U.S. Army combat veteran who served in an Airborne Infantry unit. Following his military service, he earned a bachelor's degree in Fish and Wildlife Management from Montana State University. His diverse background in military service, wildlife conservation, and scientific research brings a unique perspective to his work and his presentations.
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T3 AND THE FRIENDS OF ANAN

* Please see "schedule" page to view * Symposium times and locations 

Brian Reggiani


Brian grew up in Cordova, Alaska and earned a bachelor’s degree in Geology and Earth Science from University of Alaska, Fairbanks.  He has focused his career promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education in rural Alaska to empower students to make a difference in their home communities.  He currently serves as the Director of Student Engagement and Associate Director of Upward Bound at the University of Fairbanks, Alaska, a program aimed to improve graduation rates of high school students and their opportunities to continue with further education.  For the past several years, he has been working closely with the Teaching Through Technology (T3) Program, supporting Wrangell students as they tackle hands-on community projects.  He has spent the past two summers in Wrangell working alongside youth at the Anan Bear Observatory.  Lastly, he has been instrumental in starting up a new nonprofit organization, Friends of Anan, whose mission is to support, educate, and advocate for the preservation and sustainable management of the Anan Wildlife Observatory and its surrounding ecosystem.  Outside of work you can find him playing in the woods or on the water. 

The Wrangell T3 students have partnered with the Forest Service on projects that blend innovation, environmental stewardship, and community service. Their work includes flying drones for mapping and monitoring, designing a solar-powered camera system for bear observation at Anan, and engineering custom watering systems for Christmas trees as needed. Their work reflects a growth mindset and a belief that with curiosity, collaboration, and persistence, young people can solve real problems and make a lasting impact. 

2026 Bearfest Presentations