U.S. Forest Service installs bear-proof equipment
The worst thing as a camper is waking up to a grizzly bear. This is why the Greater Yellowstone Coalition has partnered with the US Forest Service to purchase eight bear boxes.
Bear boxes are metal bins to keep food and other smelly items like cosmetics in, so bears won’t be attracted to campsites.
When bear encounters happen, most likely, food was involved.
Kathy Rinaldi, the Idaho conservation coordinator for the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, said, “If there are food sources that are easy for them to get to they will get there. There’s a lot of truth to a ‘fed bear is a dead bear’.”
They have purchased 168 bear boxes for the national forest; each one costing $850.
Garth Smelser, forest supervisor of the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, said, “Equaling about $600,000 total over the past two years.”
The Greater Yellowstone Coalition and the Forest Service look for the success of bear populations.
“What we look at is three components. Protecting their core habitat, connective habitat so bears can move freely, and conflict reduction or coexistence with people,” Rinaldi said.
Food sources that are easy to access are one of the biggest threats to those three components.
Diane Probasco, the Zone Wildlife Biologist for the Palisades and Teton Ranger Districts, said, “They look at our campsites more as a grocery store.”
Bears that become too comfortable with human food sources must be removed from the population for safety; which is Fish and Game’s decision.
“Which unfortunately means it ends up at a zoo or ends up being euthanized,” Probasco said.
It’s important to follow guidelines to be ‘bear aware’. The next few months are when bears are preparing for hibernation. The bears are trying to pack on calories as fast as they can. This ‘hyperphagia’ time is also during hunting season.
Chris Colligan, wildlife program manager for the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, said, “As hunters we try to be quiet, we try to walk into the wind, and do kind of everything wrong that you’re taught to be proactive in bear country.”
When in bear country be aware of your surroundings and use the bear boxes. The forest service said it’s important to keep your camps clean. Don’t dump leftovers in the fire without cleaning it. Change your clothes after cooking, you don’t want to go back in your tent wearing clothes that smell tasty. They say if you do come in contact with a bear make loud noise, be as big as possible, and don’t turn your back on the bear. Remember to hike in groups and always have bear spray.
