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Show Volume XXIX Issue XIV The Ogden Valley News Page 13 June 1, 2022 DWR BEARS cont. from page 1 rather than the night before. Also, make sure to clean your trash container regularly to eliminate some of the odors that attract bears. Remove Items That Will Attract a Bear to Your House - Utah is bear country, and especially so if you live 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’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. When to Report a Bear Sighting - If you live in the foothills or canyon areas of Utah, there is a chance you may see or encounter a bear. Here is when you need to report a bear sighting to the DWR: • If you see a bear in the foothills or canyon areas, they should only be reported if they are being aggressive or if they are getting into trash, fruit trees or causing damage. • Report a bear that has wandered into lower-elevation areas and is within city limits or in heavily-populated areas so the DWR can relocate it. 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. changes. 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 or if you live in the foothills or canyons of Utah. Bear-proof Your Food & Supplies - 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 Area Clean - After you’ve finished 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 area clean, you reduce the chance that a bear will smell food and trash and be lured to your camp. Keep Your Campsite Clean - Don’t leave food scraps and other trash scattered around your campsite or cabin area. Instead, put it 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. 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 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 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.” Bear-proof Your Outdoor Garbage Cans - Many bear reports that the DWR receives each year involve bears getting into trash cans or dumpsters in neighborhoods and at cabins. Make sure to store your trash in a secure location or bear-proof container. If you don’t have access to a bear-safe garbage can or dumpster, Connie Preece of Morgan took this photo of a make sure to store your garbage can in your bear that created quite a stir May 16 when it garage and put it out for pick up in the morning, visited the town park. Snowcrest Writer Captures District Award Weber School District offered a fabulous Science Fiction writing contest this spring (2022). Students in grades 7 thru 12 were invited to craft an original short story of 500 to 5,000 words centered around creative world-building and immortal authors. Eighteen schools in the district participated and vied to capture 1st, 2nd, or 3rd-place awards in Junior High and High School categories. Contest judges were Kim Irvine, English Language Arts Director; and Jill Bowers, Young Adult Author. Snowcrest’s very own Leah Page took home a 2nd-place win for her short story, “Magic Carpet.” She also won a twenty-fivedollar cash prize! Important to mention is Leah’s commitment to the art of writing and revising. Leah submitted “Magic Carpet” to an earlier contest for the Utah Council of Teachers of English, received feedback from the Utah State University reviewers, and reworked her piece for this Science Fiction contest. That takes humility, go-getting, and a lot of work. Congratulations, Leah, on your step forward to becoming an immortal author yourself! Shown left, from left to right: Teacher Maria Inglefield with students Lillie-Kate Davenport, Leah Page, Penelope Miller, and Noah Wayman; and Snowcrest Jr. High principal Heather Hardy. Cyclekart photo taken by Murphy McPherson. Cyclekart photo taken by Shawn Tuttle. Cyclekart photo taken by Sam Crump. Cyclekart photo taken by Murphy McPherson. |
