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Show Page 8 The Ogden Valley news Volume XXV Issue X June 15, 2019 Four Tips for Staying Safe in Bear Country Utahns Grow Even More Utah is bear country and site or cabin area. Instead, put it in trash bags, they are amazing animals. But and take it home with you. Make sure to wipe Optimistic About Economic Future most of us probably wouldn’t down picnic tables and keep the area free of The Zions Bank Utah Consumer Attitude Index (CAI) nudged up 0.9 points to 113.2 in May. The year-over-year CAI increased 2.5 points. In comparison, the national Consumer Confidence Index® increased 4.9 points to 134.1 this month. The Present Situation Index dropped slightly, by 0.3 points, to 125.6 in May due to a 1% dip in the percentage of Utahns who feel jobs are plentiful. Meanwhile, Utahns’ confidence in business conditions remains strong, with 61% of Utahns indicating conditions are good. Since May 2018, the Present Situation Index has increased 3.9 points, with more Utahns feeling business conditions are good and jobs are plentiful. The Expectations Index rose 1.7 points to 105.0 in May. Utahns’ expectations for all three key indicators improved, with expectations about job availability improving the most. As of May, 32% of Utahns feel jobs will be plentiful six months from now, a 7% increase since April. Additionally, 37% of Utahns expect their household income will increase in the next six months, the highest level since March 2018 and a 4% increase since April. The Expectations Index also saw its first year-over-year rise since April 2018 as it ticked up 1.6 points since May 2018. “It’s significant that Utahns are both positive about the state of Utah’s economy and optimistic about its future,” said Scott Anderson, Zions Bank president and CEO. “It shows consumers are confident going into summer.” Since November 2018, a growing number of Utahns have anticipated that housing prices will continue to climb in the near future. Now 70% of Utahns say housing prices will increase, one of the highest points recorded since Zions Bank and Cicero Group began tracking consumer attitudes in January 2011 and the highest point since July 2018. Even so, many Utahns expect their incomes to keep pace with inflation: 32% say it is likely their household income will increase by more than the rate of inflation, while 30% feel it is equally likely and unlikely their income will match inflation. “Real wages have been trending up around the country and in Utah,” said Randy Shumway, chairman and partner of Cicero Group. “Even though price levels have been rising across Utah, we’re also seeing stronger wage growth. We expect that trend to continue, especially with the sustained job growth and lowest unemployment rate we’ve seen in Utah for over a decade. The situation appears healthy for Utah’s workers.” Monthly Survey Topic: Movie theater attendance & entertainment - A majority of Utahns (55%) said they had already seen or had planned to see a movie in the movie theater in May. Utahns also indicate they spend an average of $193 and a median of $100 on movie tickets and refreshments in the movie theater each year. A third of Utahns (35%) said they plan their attendance around discounted show times (like matinees and $5 Tuesdays) “always” or “most of the time.” Another 24% said they “sometimes” plan their attendance around discounted show times. Almost a half of Utahns (48%) said they purchase refreshments at the movie theater “always” or “most of the time.” Zions Bank provides the CAI as a free resource to the communities of Utah. The monthly CAI summary reports are released at a monthly press conference, coinciding with The Conference Board’s national CCI release date. Analysis and data collection for the CAI are done by Cicero Group, a premier management consulting firm focused on implementing data-driven strategies for a broad mix of private, public, and social sector organizations across the globe. Founded in 1873, Zions Bank has been serving the communities of Utah for more than 140 years. Additional information is available at <www.zionsbank.com> feel comfortable coming face to face with one in our campsite. If you follow a few simple steps, you can decrease the chances of that happening and can help keep you and the bears safe. Black bears are the only native bear species currently in Utah, and they have an amazing sense of smell. They also have no problem eating the same type of food that people eat. As a result, many of the conflicts between people and bears happen because the bears start scavenging for the food that humans are eating and cooking 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,” Darren DeBloois, mammals coordinator for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, said. “When a bear finds food, though, that all changes. Once it finds food, a bear will often become aggressive toward anything it perceives as threatening the area where it found the food. That includes people.” Here are a few simple tips to keep both you and the bears safe while you are out recreating in their territory this summer: “Bear-proof” Your Food - Store your food, snacks and scented items (such as deodorant and toothpaste) in an area where a bear can’t get to them. Do not leave them out on tables or keep them in your tent. Storing them in a locked trailer or locking them in the trunk of your car are both good options. Storing food and scented items in these areas will reduce the chance that a bear smells them. And, if a bear does make its way to the area where you’re staying, if it isn’t rewarded with food, it will likely move on. Keep Your Cooking Grill Clean - After you’re through eating, thoroughly clean utensils and anything else that was used to prepare or eat the food. Don’t dump oil or grease from pots or pans onto the ground. Instead, put the oil or grease in a container, and take it home with you. By keeping your campsite or cabin Gledhill, and David Crawford. If you can identify the last two missing stu- area clean, you reduce the chance that a bear dent names, please call Shanna at 745-2688 or will smell food and trash, and be lured to your Jeannie at 745-2879. Photo courtesy of Eugene camp. Keep Your Campsite Clean - Don’t toss Bailey of Liberty. food scraps and other trash around your camp- From the Past: Valley School First Grade, 1951 We would like to thank Gary Bingham, Suzanne Wood Ferre, Jimmy Allred, and Leilani Fuller Grange for all calling in to help us with the names from the photo initially published in the April 15 issue of The Ogden Valley news. Below is an updated list of names. Top Row: Teacher – Mrs. Stoker, Lois Ann Clawson, Richard Avondet, Michael Ann Whitely, Drew Wood, Barbara Wood, Luana Creamer, Mary Shaw, and Leilani Fuller Grange. Middle Row: ? Dastrut, Norene Graham, LuAnn Lindsey, ?, Janette Randell, Kathy Shaw, Louise Jones, Rhea Montgomery, Suzanne Wood Ferre, and Colleen Allen. Bottom, Front Row: Gary Bingham, Craig Peterson, Jimmy Allred, Jay Allen, Eugene Bailey, Darrel Poulsen, Clyde Fielding, Robert RAGNAR cont. from page 1 food and other debris. Always keep your campsite or cabin area clean because a dirty campsite can attract bears long after you’ve left. “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 - This may seem like common sense, but it’s worth noting. Although bear cubs may seem cute, 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 are left with something they dread: having to euthanize an animal to keep people safe. “We got into the wildlife profession because we love wildlife,” DeBloois says. “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 this year.” 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 out climb or outrun them. • Know bear behavior. If a bear stands up, grunts, moans or makes other sounds, it’s not being aggressive. These are the ways a bear gets a better look or smell and expresses its interest. • If a black bear attacks, always fight back. And never give up! People have successfully defended themselves with almost anything: Rocks, sticks, backpacks, water bottles and even their hands and feet. For more tips on staying safe around black bears, visit the DWR website and the Wild Aware Utah website. A video about bear safety is also available on the DWR YouTube channel. Huntsville • 1900 N. Roads Impacted by This Year’s Ragnar Race • 7800 E. Liberty • Main St. • SR-162 • 200 S. • River Road • 300 S. • Liberty Park • 500 S. Eden Snowbasin Area • 5500 E. • Old Snow Basin Rd. • SR-166 • Trapper’s Loop • 1900 N. |
