Due to a lack of being “Bear Aware”, a young male black bear was euthanized. This black bear incident occurred at the Stoddard Creek Campground near Dubois, Idaho.
The Idaho Fish and Game captured the bear on July 14. This black bear showed no fear of humans and was continually ripping open coolers and tents in search of food. Fish and Game determined that the bear’s actions were posing a significant risk to humans.
“Public safety is our number one priority. This situation could have easily been avoided if campers would have taken the time to secure their garbage and keep it away from bears.” -Matt Pieron, Regional Supervisor.
An article published by the IDFG in 2019 estimates that the state’s black bear population is between 20,000 and 30,000 bears. You can read more from that article here.
Something that seemed to grow during the COVID pandemic was outdoor activities. This increase of outdoor enthusiasts did not however increase the knowledge of what to do in bear country.
Do you want to avoid a bear in your camp? Follow these simple tips:
- Never keep food or “smell-able” items in your tent.
- Keep all of your food, garbage, and other scented items in a locked vehicle or trailer.
- Never leave food, garbage, or coolers out on your picnic table.
- Clean up your camp. For example: securing loose pet food, cleaning dishes, and cooking away from your tent.
- Avoid burying food scraps, throwing them, or cooking grease in your fire pit.
- If you are unable to secure your food in a vehicle, hang your food in a tree 10 to 15 feet off the ground, 4 feet from the trunk, and at least 100 yards away from your camp.
Following these types of precautions will keep both you and the bears safe while recreating. You can read more about this incident by clicking here. Likewise, you can read more Idaho hunting news by clicking here.
