Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 10

NEWS

Leaving out food and gear associated with food while recreating in grizzly bear country can attract bears to your camp. Practice bear safety when outdoors to prevent a conflict. (WGFD photo)

Be bear aware when recreating
CODY - Grizzly bears are found in some
of Wyoming's most pristine and remote locations. Those locales also attract hunters, anglers
and outdoor enthusiasts who want to take in
that beauty and isolation.
Add those two components together and
there is the chance of human-bear
interaction, which can be dangerous.
However, there are things you can do
to avoid confrontations with grizzly
bears while recreating:
* Do not surprise a bear. Surprise
encounters can be very dangerous and are usually how aggressive
encounters occur. Make noise to alert
bears of your presence. Bears will
most likely leave the area if they hear
you coming.
* Carry bear spray in a readily accessible manner and know how to use it.
* If possible, try not to recreate alone. Groups
of three to four people are intimidating to
bears.
* Stay on main trails. Bears make day beds
in heavy, dark timber which is usually away
from areas of human activity.
10 | December 2020

* Avoid hiking around dusk and dawn. Bears
are active during twilight hours.
* Be aware of your surroundings and learn
what indicates the presence of bears. Look
for signs of bears such as tracks, scat and
rolled rocks.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT
RECREATING IN BEAR COUNTRY
GO TO: HTTPS://WGFD.WYO.GOV/
WILDLIFE-IN-WYOMING/MOREWILDLIFE/LARGE-CARNIVORE/
GRIZZLY-BEAR-MANAGEMENT/
BEAR-WISE-WYOMING

* Avoid areas where there is seasonal food
for bears. For example, don't hike through
a thick berry patch in late August.
What if you want more than a day trip in
bear country? Camping in Wyoming's wild
places is popular among locals and out-ofstaters looking to get away from the rigors of

everyday life. However, there is one primary
thing people can do to avoid bears coming
into or near their camp.
" Messy camps with food or other attractants left out is the primary reason bears are
attracted to campsites, " said Dan Thompson,
Wyoming Game and Fish Department
large carnivore section supervisor.
Whether in a camp trailer or tent,
campers should follow these guidelines
while camping in bear country:
* Store all bear attractants inside a
hard-sided vehicle. If that's not possible, store these items in a bear-proof
box hung from a game pole at least 10
to 15 feet above the ground and 4 feet
from the vertical pole or tree trunk.
This includes pet food. Never store
attractants in a tent.
* Where you sleep should be at least 100 yards
from food storage and eating/cooking areas.
* Keep clothes worn while cooking stored
with food and other attractants.
* Clean all grease from camp stoves and wipe
down eating and cooking areas after each
use.

https://wgfd.wyo.gov/Wildlife-in-Wyoming/More-Wildlife/Large-Carnivore/Grizzly-Bear-Management/Bear-Wise-Wyoming/Camping-and-Hiking-in-Bear-Country https://wgfd.wyo.gov/Wildlife-in-Wyoming/More-Wildlife/Large-Carnivore/Grizzly-Bear-Management/Bear-Wise-Wyoming

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