HYRUM – The Hardware Wildlife Education Center will have it’s bear exhibit on display again during the weekends in May.
With the weather warming up across the state, black bears will soon begin leaving their dens making it a good time to learn more about them.
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources’ Hardware Wildlife Education Center is located at the Hardware Wildlife Management Area in beautiful Blacksmith Fork Canyon, 15 miles east of Hyrum on state Route 101. The education center is best known for the unique elk viewing opportunities it offers in the winter. Sometimes it is open for special exhibits.
Admission to the center’s Bear Aware exhibit is free. The center will be closed on May 12 for Mother’s Day but will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the following days:
- Friday, May 10 — Saturday, May 11
- Friday, May 17 — Sunday, May 19
- Friday, May 24 — Sunday, May 26
Hardware Wildlife Education Center Education Coordinator Marni Lee said black bears leave their dens in the spring when the weather starts to warm up.
“May is also a time when lots of Utahns head outdoors for different recreational activities,” she said. “Tour our ‘Bear Aware’ exhibit to get tips on how to stay safe while recreating in black bear country.”
Inside the center visitors can see displays about black bear safety and chat with the education center staff. The exhibit has crafts and fun activities for the whole family.
As visitors make the drive through Blacksmith Fork Canyon on your trip to Hardware Ranch, you may see wild turkeys, mule deer and even an occasional moose.
Fishing on Curtis Creek and the Blacksmith Fork River is another fun springtime activity. Be sure to be careful around the rivers they may be running faster than normal during the spring runoff.
“Spring is a beautiful time to visit the WMA,” Lee said. “The scenery is as green and vibrant as it will be all year.”
The event is free, however participants are asked to register in advance on the Eventbrite page.
For more information about the exhibit or for directions to the education center, call the WMA at 435-753-6206.