Hungry bear steals lakeside lunch as tourists go in Grand Teton water. It’s a problem
Hungry bears have been feasting on way too many people’s lunches by the lakeside in a Wyoming national park — and it’s causing lots of problems, officials said.
The most recent example is a black bear that got into a backpack near the shore of Phelps Lake in Grand Teton National Park and gobbled up the food inside while the tourists were out on the water Aug. 11, officials said in an Aug. 18 news release.
It was the fourth time a black bear got into human items left near lakeshores while tourists were out on the water, officials said.
“In the last five years, almost half of all human-black bear conflicts within Grand Teton have occurred around lakes,” officials said in the news release.
It’s a problem because the bears can start to associate people with food — meaning the bear is “food-conditioned” — and they can become more and more bold in their efforts to snatch more tasty, easily obtainable meals. Once bears become dangerous to human safety, park rangers have few other choices than to kill them, officials said.
That’s why it’s mandatory for park visitors to store food properly and secure all other smelly items, including dirty cookware, toiletries and anything else that has a scent.
Those rules apply whether tourists are camping, hiking, having a picnic or when they’re out on the water swimming, officials said.
“Travelers from around the world come to Grand Teton to observe wild bears roaming across the iconic landscape,” officials said. “However, the opportunity to see a bear means that we have an extra responsibility to do our part to protect these animals by properly securing anything that may attract them.”
Officials ask anyone who sees a bear getting into human items or “acting boldly” to report the incident to the nearest visitor center or any nearby park rangers.
“The earlier park officials know about the bear’s behavior, the more options the park has to prevent further human-bear conflicts and avoid having to lethally remove the bear,” officials said.
People should keep any bear attractants inside a locked car or other hard-sided vehicle with the windows rolled up. Keeping things inside a “bear box” — a bear-resistant food storage locker, which are available for use in certain areas — will also work.
Anyone heading out to a lake needs to have a plan for securing food.
“You could opt to designate someone to stay with your food items or leave them in your closed vehicle,” officials said. “Remember to never leave your backpack farther than arm’s reach at all times.”
Usually when a bear finds human food, it’s because someone abandoned a cooler, backpack or any other container with food inside “for just a moment,” officials said.
“But just a moment away from your backpack can result in a bear’s death,” officials said. “The solution to not creating food-conditioned bears is easy and we need your help. ... Be a steward for Grand Teton’s bears. Have a plan to secure your attractants when you visit the park. By each of us doing our part, we can ensure the long-term future of the park’s bear population. We can’t do it without you.”
What to do if you see a bear
Bear attacks in the U.S. are rare, according to the National Park Service. In most attacks, bears are trying to defend their food, cubs or space.
There are steps people can take to help prevent a bear encounter from becoming a bear attack.
Identify yourself: Talk calmly and slowly wave your arms. This can help the bear realize you’re a human and nonthreatening.
Stay calm: Bears usually don’t want to attack; they want to be left alone. Talk slowly and with a low voice to the bear.
Don’t scream: Screaming could trigger an attack.
Pick up small children: Don’t let kids run away from the bear. It could think they’re small prey.
Hike in groups: A group is noisier and smellier, the National Park Service said. Bears like to keep their distance from groups of people.
Make yourself look big: Move to higher ground and stand tall. Don’t make any sudden movements.
Don’t drop your bag: A bag on your back can keep a bear from accessing food, and it can provide protection.
Walk away slowly: Move sideways so you appear less threatening to the bear. This also lets you keep an eye out.
Again, don’t run: Bears will chase you, just like a dog would.
Don’t climb trees: Grizzlies and black bears can also climb.
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