Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY — There has been a rash of recent incidents involving bears and people. Utah experienced a microburst of conflicts this summer, with three incidents straddling the closing days of July and the onset of August.
Then, last week, while camping at Perry's RV just south of Red Lodge, Montana, a 3-year-old-girl was injured and hospitalized after a black bear drawn in by food and trash attacked her while she was asleep in the family's tent.
For many parents, it's a nightmare come true and raises the question: What can you do to keep your kids safe in bear country?
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks investigators "found unsecured attractants, including garbage, a cooler and human food around and inside the tent where the attack occurred."
In American Fork Canyon, where a black bear had been frequenting campgrounds before being caught and killed, it was a similar pattern of a trash- and human-food-conditioned bear, according to Faith Heaton Jolley, a spokeswoman for the Utah Department of Wildlife Resources.
The pattern repeated itself again near Kamas in the opening days of August, when a bear, habituated to human food and trash, had been raiding campsites and was subsequently caught and euthanized.
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.
–Faith Heaton Jolley
Fortunately, no one was injured in either Utah incident. But the attack near Red Lodge, Montana, serves as a haunting, even frightening reminder of what might, and almost certainly will, happen if campers do not take informed steps to keep themselves, their children and others safe.
Following the incident at Perry's RV, a camper who claims they were in the campground at the time of the attack said the bear had been spotted days prior, and staff was made aware of the situation but were dismissive because the bear had been frequenting the campground since early in the season. When contacted about the accusation, Perry RV staff declined to comment.
But, even without comment, a frustrating pattern — all too painfully familiar to wildlife managers — has been clearly established.
It's a similar pattern which culminated in the death of Leah Lokan in 2021 outside of Ovando, Montana, and even echoed some aspects of the infamous incident which claimed the life of "the Grizzly Man" Timothy Treadwell in October 2003.
"Department of Wildlife Resources staff got into the wildlife profession because we love wildlife. We enjoy managing and protecting animals so Utahns can get outdoors and enjoy them," said Jolley. "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."
Habituated bears are euthanized to protect people, often after a conflict — sometimes serious — has occurred.
Properly storing and managing food and trash is perhaps the simplest and most effective way to keep people and wildlife safe — and, yet, it still plagues public lands and wildlife managers.
What not to do
Whether traveling with children or not, it's critical to keep anything with an odor away from tents and sleeping areas. This practice is crucial for the safety of everyone in a party, especially small children, and the campers that will visit Utah's wonderlands long after you've gone home.
Keep your camp clean by storing food in the trunk of your car or a hard-sided and lockable trailer.
This includes biodegradable scraps which can be potent attractants for bears and other animals. Do not put yourself or others in harm's way. Dispose of your trash properly, and if campground dumpsters are full, haul it out.
As any parent knows, camping with kids includes some extra considerations, particularly when it comes to keeping a clean camp. It's a good idea to take the extra step of cleaning kids up before going to bed and putting them in clean clothes intended for sleeping and nothing else.
Store dirty clothes, soiled diapers and other potential attractants in a locked vehicle or in another bear-resistant space away from your sleeping area.
For more tips, including regarding lesser-known attractants, like cosmetics, watch the following video:
Ultimately, campers are individually responsibility for their own actions, but keeping outdoor playgrounds safe for both people and wildlife is a community stewardship. Dire consequences are rarely immediate. Wild animals, including bears, are naturally shy, at least until they've learned to associate people with food.
If you see something that is concerning, like overfilled campground dumpsters or parties failing to secure their food and trash, contact officials or other relevant authorities.
Jolley said failure to properly manage food and trash can result in fines and other punishments. But fines ought to be secondary considerations: Keeping natural resources pristine and safe for everyone to enjoy should be reason enough to responsibly enjoy Utah's wild treasures.
No one wants another child to be harmed, or worse, because someone wouldn't take responsibility for storing their food or properly disposing of their trash.
Commit to keeping everyone safe. Commit to managing your food and trash responsibly.
Are there too many bears?
With increased numbers of confrontations with bears, it's common to think bears are overabundant, but, Darren DeBloois, game animals coordinator with Utah's Department of Wildlife Resources, said, "Estimates indicated a general decline in the number of bears across the state in recent years."
"Even with recent declines, there are probably more bears in the state than there were 20 years ago," he said, while stressing, "Bears are too difficult to count."
In truth, "overabundant" is likely best viewed as a relative term. Poor management of food and trash will lead to more conflicts between people and wildlife and, for some, increased anxiety about the presence of bears on the landscape.
Conversely, proper management of human food and waste will reduce conflicts and, consequently, reduce safety concerns or fears that bears are overabundant.
