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AMERICAN FORK — A bear that visited several campgrounds in the last few weeks in American Fork Canyon was trapped and killed Saturday.
The 5-year-old black bear was first sighted in American Fork Canyon on July 18, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources said in a statement Tuesday. The bear had visited Granite Flats, Timpooneke, Salamander Flat and Altamount campgrounds, as well as dispersed camping near Silver Lake, in a one-week period.
The bear got into food and trash at each site and "had become habituated to getting food from areas with people," the statement said.
The Division of Wildlife Resources confirmed it was the same bear in each instance because it has a recognizable "now nonworking radio collar."
The U.S. Forest Service closed campgrounds while attempting to trap the bear over the last week. The bear was captured Saturday morning at the Timpooneke Campground by a walk-in culvert live trap.
"The bear showed little to no fear of humans and had bluff charged officers earlier in the week. The bear had become habituated to seeking food in campgrounds, which can create a dangerous situation that would not be solved by simply relocating the bear," the department said.
Because the bear created a high-risk public safety threat, the Division of Wildlife Resource's policy required he be killed.
"Our staff got into the wildlife profession because we love wildlife. 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 really hard," the division's statement said.
The Division of Wildlife Resources reminds Utahns it is crucial to keep campsites clean to avoid attracting bears, as it can create dangerous situations for both bears and people.
The agency reminds people of the need to stay safe while recreating in bear country, which includes all of Utah except for the West Desert. The Division of Wildlife Resources said to bear-proof food and supplies by keeping them in areas bears can't reach and to keep the campsite clean, especially cooking areas.
