Animals

Deserts

Geology

Plants


Bear Advisory

Bear Attack

Bear Facts

Books & Resources

Camping

Hiking

Menstruation

Notes

Overview

Photos

Related Sites

Roadside Bears

Store Food Properly

 

Click for Bear Country info.

 

A pair of brown bears.Canyon Country Animals

Mammals: Bear

This page contains some basic information on bears and how hikers and campers can prevent negative encounters with the large, magnificent creatures of the wilds.

 

The Best Way to Avoid Conflict with Bears is to Prevent It

 

Overview

Bears are alike in many ways and this makes some of their behavior predictable. But, each bear is also an individual with a unique history. This individuality can lead to less predictable behavior and unique responses to various situations. The following guidelines work well for an average bear, but remember that each bear has its own way of interacting with the world around it. And remember, people have been injured and killed by bears, even in our national parks.

Prevention is the Key

People who live in, or visit, bear habitat have a responsibility to the wildlife whose habitat they are sharing. Feeding bears, whether intentional or not, can amount to a death sentence for the animal. More and more communities and campgrounds are adopting a zero-tolerance policy toward people who feed bears and other wildlife. In some places, people are being cited for failing to properly store food and garbage.

A Fed Bear is a Dead Bear

In the spring, bears emerge from their dens with one thing in mind: eating. They travel for miles in search of food, guided by a keen sense of smell. A full garbage can or a messy campsite might seem like the mother lode to a hungry bear, and that's when most bear/human conflicts begin.

The black bear, in addition to being a strong swimmer, sprinter, and climber, is very intelligent. One easy meal from a house, car, or campsite is all it takes for some bears to learn that people and food go together. Once a bear makes this association, it's not a pleasant story for people or bears.

One hungry bear is capable of causing thousands of dollars worth of property damage in a single incident. In some states, by law, a homeowner who has taken steps to eliminate bear attractants but still suffers property damage can obtain a permit from the state's Department of Fish and Game to kill the bear causing the problem

Bears that are accustomed to people can become bold and even aggressive. There are dozens of documented cases of people being mauled, and even killed, by black bears. Although rare, when a bear behaves aggressively towards people, the Department of Fish and Game may need to euthanize the animal to protect public safety.

Living in Bear Habitat

Bears are attracted to anything smelly or edible, especially garbage. Bears are also attracted to bee hives, orchards, and gardens. Occasionally, livestock are killed and eaten. Follow these guidelines to help keep your home "bear-proof":

The Relocation Option

Over the years, wildlife agencies around the country have tried to solve bear/human conflicts by capturing and moving "problem bears" to other locations. Almost without exception, the relocated bear suffers one of three fates:

Bear Education

A researcher in Alaska tried an experiment to determine if bears that routinely raided local garbage cans could "unlearn" their behavior. He randomly placed pellets, laced with a chemical, in the garbage cans. When eaten, the pellets would cause the bears to vomit violently. These intelligent animals quickly learned that the garbage was fine, as long as they avoided the pellets.

Shooting bears with rubber bullets or pepper spray may temporarily scare them away, but it hasn't been successful in changing a bear's behavior if the bear has learned that food is available. At best, it is a short-term, temporary solution in areas that already have problem bears. As long as there is food available, the bears return after the bullets and pepper spray are put away. These tactics are legal for use only by law enforcement personnel and employees of some public agencies.

Reporting Nuisance Bears

In Utah

If you see a bear in a residential area or you encounter an aggressive bear, contact the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources immediately at one of the following offices:

Roadside Bears

Bears and roadsides are not a good combination. Bears feeding along roads quickly become habituated to vehicles and people. When people stop for a closer look or to take pictures, habituated bears become even bolder and my approach cars or people. Eventually, someone will feed a bear, creating a very dangerous situation that may lead to human injury and the bear's death.

Camping in Bear Habitat

Hiking in Bear Habitat

Make Noise

Bears don't like surprises and will usually move out of the way if they hear people approaching. Make plenty of noise, especially when approaching blind corners, dense shrubs and streams, and when walking into the wind. A loud shout every few minutes is more effective than wearing bear bells. Do not hike after dark or before dawn.

Travel in a Group

If possible, never travel alone on trails in bear country. Always keep your group together; be especially diligent in keeping children with you at all times.

Be Observant

If you see signs of recent bear activity (i.e., fresh diggings along the trail, bear scat, tracks, etc.), be especially vigilant. Consider going back the way you came; it is better to cut your hike short than to risk an encounter with a bear.

Pets on the Trail

Leave dogs at home when going into bear country. Bears may chase them.

Upon Encountering a Bear

Do not approach bears. They are exceptionally fast and you can not outrun them. To learn what to do if you do encounter a bear, see our Bear Attack page.

Bears and Menstruating Women

Considering bears' highly developed sense of smell, it may seem logical that they could be attracted to odors associated with menstruation. Studies on this subject are few and inconclusive. If a woman chooses to hike or camp in bear country during menstruation, a basic precaution should be to wear internal tampons, not external pads. Used tampons should be double bagged in a zip-lock type bag and stored the same as trash.

Photos

 

Notes

Books and Resources

 

More Resources

  • Arizona Wildlife Mammals
    by William R. Hernbrode; 1959;produced by the Arizona Game and Fish Department, 2222 West Greenway Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85023.
  • Discovering Sierra Mammals
    by Russell K. Grater; 1978; published by the Yosemite Natural History Association and the Sequoia Natural History Association in cooperation with the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
  • Field Guide to the Grand Canyon
    by Stephen R. Whitney; 1996; published by The Mountaineers, 1001 SW Klickitat Way, Suite 201, Seattle, Washington 98134.
  • USDA Forest Service, Inyo National Forest
    873 North Main Street, Bishop, California 93514; dispatch: 760-873-2405; Forest Headquarters Office phone: 760-873-2400.

Related Sites

Remember to bookmark this site before you venture off down these side trails. They lead to other Web sites that we do not control. We cannot vouch for the content on, nor do we endorse, these sites. The following links are intended to assist you in your quest for further related information. If you discover a broken link, or a link with inappropriate content, or know of a link that should be listed here, please let us know.

More Outside Links

Top

Site design by Frank Stehno
All photographs by Frank Stehno unless otherwise indicated.
Copyright © 2011 by Frank and Anne Stehno. All rights reserved.