Utah Campers Need To Follow These Tips To Avoid Bear Encounters

Utah has roughly another month and a half of Summer which means that bears will still be seen up north for the next few weeks.  

Though the state only has black bears which are known to be less aggressive, it's still a shock to wake up and find one in your backyard. Bears scavenge for food and love to raid campsites so it's somewhat common to find them near barbeques and in coolers.  

"Even though they're incredibly strong and surprisingly fast, black bears will typically do everything they can to avoid people," DWR Game Mammals Coordinator Darren DeBloois said. "When a bear finds food, though, that all changes. A bear will often become aggressive toward anything it perceives as threatening the area where it found the food — that includes people." 

So, for camping enthusiasts, I’m sure this comes as no surprise, but maintaining your campsite is important to avoid any bear encounters.  

The DWR has a few simple tips on how to avoid attracting bears: 

• Use plastic bags and store your food in places a bear can’t get to. This includes things like deodorant and toothpaste.  

• Clean your cooking area well. Don’t throw out cooking grease but place it in a container to throw away at home. Since bears sense of smell is so strong, keeping yummy food smells to a minimum is a must. 

• Don’t feed a bear...EVER! 

Bears can also be attracted to homes and things like bird feeders, fruit trees, pet food and more can easily attract them. However, removing your fruit trees and bird feeders seems a bit sad, especially since it's your backyard. It may be a risk you take.  

So, be aware Utah does have bears and if you're planning any late-Summer camping trips, these tips will really help.