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Show Bear Encounters On The Rise in Southern Utah Drought conditions in southern Utah are forcing black bears to search for food in areas they wouldn't normally visit, resulting in increased contact between bears and humans. "We're having bear problems in many areas of southeastern Utah," said Mike Milburn, conservation officer in the Division of Wildlife Resources' Southeastern Region. "We've received complaints from Bristle Cone Camp, Timberlane girls camp, a LaSal Mountain cabin owner and from campgrounds on the Abajo mountains." "The state's black bears did not have a good berry and nut food base last year and went into hibernation without the fat reserves they need," explained Boyde Blackwell, Division mammals program coordinator. "Now, especially in the southern and southeastern regions of the state, where drought conditions prevail, younger and less experienced bears are not finding grasses and other vegetation they need to build fat reserves for this winter. The only place they're finding good succulent vegetation is in the river bottoms, where there is water." When bears come off the hillsides, where they normally find food, down into river bottoms and canyon areas, contacts with humans potentially increase. While bears are being forced into these areas by drought conditions, people are compounding the problem by not following some simple guidelines. Usually, bears are attracted to humans by human carelessness--leaving garbage or food items scattered about and through intentional feedings. Almost all bear problems can be avoided by following some simple rules: 1) keep a clean camp; 2) keep yourself clean and odor free - no cooking odors, perfumes, etc.; 3) separate your cooking area from your sleeping area; 4) store your groceries in the trunk of a car or a hard trailer; 5) secure trash in a bear-proof container or place it in the trunk of a. car or hard trailer and 6) is backpacking, suspend food at least 10 feet off the ground and centered between trees at least eight feet apart. To avoid an encounter while hiking in areas where bears are common, experts recommend making noise, such as singing or attaching a bell to your pack. The bell and singing alert bears to your (See Bear Encounters On The Rise In Southern Utah On Page 5A) Bear Encounters On The Rise From Page 1 presence and they will move out of your way. If you encounter a bear, yell, bang pots and throw rocks to scare the bear away. If the bear approaches, retreat slowly, get in a vehicle or climb a tree. If attacked, fight back by punching, kicking and yelling. An aggressive response will often intimidate a black bear. If people have a bear encounter they should contact a Division office and they'll respond to the problem. Unless it is a life or death situation, people should not take matters into their own hands. Personnel will respond and handle the situation. People are reminded that when bears and humans come in contact, the bear is almost always the loser. Bears that learn humans may be a source of food generally have to be relocated or destroyed. "Unfortunately, due to diminishing available habitat, the relocation of bears is seldom an acceptable alternative," Blackwell said. "Most of the available habitat we can relocate bears in is already occupied by other bears and they'll seldom accept a newcomer. Other available habitat is often frequented by humans or had been developed for human haWation." The Division has prepared a pamphlet entitled "Safety in Cougar and Bear Country." to help people avoid bear and cougar contacts and to provide tips on what to do, if a contact occurs. The publication is available free of charge by calling the Division's Salt Lake City office at (801) 538- |
