Another Griz above Lander............
GRIZZLY BEAR SIGHTED NEAR LANDER
LANDER—Officials with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department were recently notified of a grizzly bear sighting in an area northwest of Lander.
Game and Fish Large Carnivore Conflict Coordinator Brian DeBolt said a black bear hunter made the discovery when he reviewed the photographs on his trail camera.
“In late May a black bear hunter looked through his trail camera photos and saw a bear he was sure was a grizzly,” DeBolt said. “The hunter brought the trail camera photographs to the Lander Region Game and Fish Office where it was determined that the bear in the photographs is a grizzly bear.”
DeBolt said this is not the first time a grizzly bear has appeared on a hunter’s trail camera.
“Last year there a grizzly bear was documented on another black bear hunter’s bait site in Sinks Canyon, west of Lander,” DeBolt said. “We have also documented grizzly bears even further to the south, so we know they are in the county and we want backcountry users to be bear aware.”
With the snow melting from the high country, roads and campgrounds are beginning to open and many people are heading to the forest to enjoy recreating in the great outdoors. DeBolt reminds everyone when recreating, visiting, or living in bear country to be aware that they could encounter a bear at any time.
“The most important action when camping or recreating in bear country is keeping all food and attractants unavailable to bears,” DeBolt said. “Attractants to a bear could be things like pop, canned goods, toothpaste, garbage, or dog food. Do not leave any food or attractants outside of our camper, tent, or vehicles. This results in an easy food reward for bears and they will return to get more and this spells trouble. If you are going to recreate in bear country, be bear aware. If you see any bear or unusual bear activities report it immediately.”
“Most of bear safety is plain commonsense,” DeBolt said. “Be alert and watch for evidence of bear activity such as tracks, scat, and diggings and use caution while working or recreating in these areas, especially in and around riparian zones along creeks and rivers. Hikers, fisherman, antler hunters, or anyone else recreating in areas that could be occupied by bears should take precautions and carry a deterrent such as commercially available bear spray.”
DeBolt said anyone camping in bear country is urged to follow these rules:
Chose a campsite free of fresh bear signs; scat, diggings or tracks.
Keep a clean camp. Food and odors attract bears.
Store food, garbage and other bear attractants well away (100 yards) from your sleeping area.
Cook well away (100 yards) from sleeping area. Do not sleep in the clothes that you wore while cooking or handling fish or game.
Remove/pack everything out of the camp site. Don’t burn or bury garbage. Bears will dig it up.
Coolers, backpacks, wooden boxes and tents are not bear resistant. Do not leave food or other bear attractants in open vehicles at trailheads, campgrounds or along forest roads.
Bear resistant storage containers are a good method for storing food and other attractants. They can be purchased at many outdoor shops or in some cases may be rented at outdoor shops and US Forest Service offices.
Use bear-resistant trash receptacles and food storage lockers provided in campgrounds.
Clean barbecue grills and store them so they are unavailable to bears.
If possible, leave pets at home. If you do take your pet into bear country keep it under control at all times.
If you have a bear encounter report that encounter immediately to your local game and fish personnel or local US Forest Service office.
There are many brochures about living and recreating in bear country. Brochures are available at any Game and Fish region office, US Forest Service offices, and at the Game and Fish website
http://wgfd.wyo.gov/ To report a bear sighting in the Lander Region contact the regional office at 1-800-654-7862 (in state) or 1-307-332-2688.
