LOGAN — Last October a black bear was found and sedated in a Logan residential neighborhood. Earlier that year, bears were spotted in Blacksmith Fork Canyon and areas east of Avon. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources wants to remind outdoorsmen with the weather warming up bears will be coming out of hibernation.
DWR wants Utahns to remember ways they can prevent conflicts with bears this summer and also what to do if you encounter a bear.
Black bears are relatively fast and can run up to 30 miles an hour.
Black bears typically come out of hibernation in March or April, depending on conditions. During the spring, plants and insects make up 90% of a black bear’s diet, but because they have an amazing sense of smell they will eat the same food that people eat if they can get to it.
Conflicts between people and bears generally happen because bears start scavenging for food that humans are eating and cooking while camping, which often takes place in the bear’s natural habitat.
“Even though they’re incredibly strong and surprisingly fast, black bears will typically do everything they can to avoid people,” DWR Game Mammals Coordinator Darren DeBloois said. “When a bear finds food, though, that can all change. A bear may become aggressive toward animals or people it perceives as threatening the area where it found the food.”
Black bears can be found all throughout Utah typically in mountainous areas. They can be commonly found in foothills and canyons.
Here are a few simple tips to keep people and the bears safe while recreating this summer:
Bear-proof your food and supplies
Don’t leave food, snacks and scented items (such as deodorant and toothpaste) on tables or in tents where a bear can get to them. Store food and scented items in a locked trailer or in the trunk of a car. If a bear does make its way to the area where you’re staying, if they don’t find food, it will likely move on.
Keep your cooking area clean
After you’ve finished eating, thoroughly clean everything that was used to prepare or eat the food. Put the oil or grease in a container and take it home with you. Clean campsite’s and keeping eating areas clean, you reduce the chance a bear will smell food and trash, and be lured to the camp.
Keep your campsite clean
Put your garbage in trash bags, and take it home with you. Make sure to wipe down picnic tables and keep the area free of food and other debris.
DWR wants to remind people when recreating out doors to keep camps clean and store food iin bear Proof containers.
“If a bear visits the area after you leave and then someone comes into that area to camp, you’ve created a potentially dangerous situation,” DeBloois said.
Never feed a bear
Bear cubs may seem cute, but you should absolutely never feed one or an adult bear for that matter. They are wild animals and natural predators.
Once a bear loses its fear of people, wildlife biologists and conservation officers have to euthanize an animal to keep the public safe. By not providing a bear with food, you can help keep it safe too.
“We got into the wildlife profession because we love wildlife,” DeBloois said. “We enjoy managing and protecting animals so Utahns can get outdoors and enjoy them. Having to euthanize an animal — because someone didn’t do something as simple as keeping their campsite clean and storing food in a secure area — is tough. Please don’t put us in that situation.”
Bear-proof your outdoor garbage cans
The DWR receives many reports each year of bears getting into trash cans or dumpsters in neighborhoods and at cabins. Make sure trash is secured in a secure location or bear-proof container. If you don’t have access to a bear-safe garbage can or dumpster, store the garbage can in the garage and put it out for pick up in the morning. Make sure to clean your trash container regularly to eliminate odors that attract bears.
When bears are captured by DWR they collar them to keep track of thier movements.
Remove items that will attract a bear to your house
Utah is bear country, and for those living in the foothills or other mountainous parts of the state. It is important to properly secure or clean anything in your yard that may attract a bear. Some of these include:
- Birdfeeders (both seed and hummingbird)
- Fruit trees
- Compost piles
- Beehives
- Pet food and water bowls
- Unsupervised outdoor pets (especially at night)
- Barbecue grills
Know what to do if you encounter a bear
- Stand your ground: Never back up, lie down or play dead. Stay calm and give the bear a chance to leave. Prepare to use your bear spray or another deterrent.
- Don’t run away or climb a tree. Black bears are excellent climbers and can run up to 35 mph — you cannot outclimb or outrun them.
- Know bear behavior. If a bear stands up, grunts, moans or makes other sounds, it may not mean it is being aggressive. These are ways a bear gets a better look or smell and expresses its interest.
- If a black bear attacks, always fight back. People have successfully defended themselves with almost anything: rocks, sticks, backpacks, water bottles and even their hands and feet.
When to report a bear sighting
- If you see a bear in the foothills or canyon areas, it should only be reported if it’s being aggressive or if it’s getting into trash or fruit trees or causing damage.
- Report any bear that has wandered into lower-elevation areas and is within city limits or a heavily populated community, so the DWR can relocate it.
For more tips on staying safe around black bears, visit the Wild Aware Utah website.