Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 11

*	 Don't bury trash. Bears will dig it up. Dispose of all garbage properly and pack out
any remaining trash.
Some of Wyoming's most sought-after
big game such as elk and mule deer share
habitat with bears. Hunters are encouraged
to hunt in pairs and stay within sight of each
other. They also should carry a defense readily
accessible.
Once an animal has been harvested, there
are several things to be aware of if in bear
country. The best way to minimize a conflict
with a bear is to pack and remove the game
meat out of the field as quickly as possible.
As with any kind of food, if you have game
meat at your camp, it should be hung in a
tree at least 10 to 15 feet from the ground
and 4 feet from the tree trunk.
Once an animal is down, place the carcass
in an open area so you can see a bear coming.
Drag the carcass away from the gut pile if
possible. If you leave the carcass overnight
and return the next day, use caution. Stop
and view the carcass from a distance with
binoculars. Approach the carcass upwind and
make sufficient noise to alert a bear of your
presence. If you detect a disturbance or the
carcass has been buried, a bear probably did

it and may be bedded nearby. Never attempt
to scare a bear off a carcass it has claimed.
Make sure to travel in groups to return to
any carcass, more eyes allow for increased
vigilance.
Anglers are encouraged to clean fish at
a designated cleaning station or at home.
Wash all of your gear to ensure there are no
desirable odors for bears in the future.
Even the most diligent people who follow
all the guidelines to avoid a bear encounter can still experience one. Dusty Lasseter,
Game and Fish Bear Wise coordinator and
large carnivore biologist, offers the following
tips if you run into an aggressive or defensive
bear at close range:
*	 Try to remain calm, slowly back out of the
area and have a defense ready.
*	 Never run away from a bear.
*	 Do not challenge a bear with any aggressive
body language or eye contact.
*	 If the bear begins to approach, stand your
ground and use bear spray or a weapon if
available.
*	 If the bear makes contact or is about to
make contact, drop and cover. Lay flat
on your stomach while interlacing your
fingers and placing them on the back of

your neck. Do not fight back.
*	 Once the bear feels the threat is neutralized
it will stop attacking.
*	 Make sure the bear has left the area before
you try to move.
Grizzly bears can display predatory behavior. When this occurs they are not defending
anything. They may appear to be interested
in you or deliberately approach you without
displaying any stress behaviors. If a bear enters
your tent, it is predator behavior. When this
occurs, you should fight back by any means
necessary. Do not drop and cover.
Tips if you encounter a bear acting in a
predacious manner include:
*	 Stand your ground and do not back away.
*	 Act aggressively toward the bear.
*	 Make yourself look as big as possible by
holding your arms out, using your coat
and standing on a log or rock.
*	 Yell at the bear in a loud, firm voice.
*	 Use branches and rocks to deter the bear.
*	 Use bear spray or a weapon to protect yourself. You have the absolute right to defend
yourself when put into a dangerous interaction with a grizzly bear or other wildlife.
- Robert Gagliardi, WGFD

(Illustration by Christine Schlenker)

		

Wyoming Wildlife | 11

https://wgfd.wyo.gov/Wildlife-in-Wyoming/More-Wildlife/Large-Carnivore/Grizzly-Bear-Management/Bear-Wise-Wyoming/Hunting-Fishing-in-Bear-Country https://wgfd.wyo.gov/Wildlife-in-Wyoming/More-Wildlife/Large-Carnivore/Grizzly-Bear-Management/Bear-Wise-Wyoming/Hunting-Fishing-in-Bear-Country

Wyoming Wildlife magazine

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