JACKSON, Wyo. — A black bear was stuck by a vehicle and killed on Teton Pass on Saturday afternoon.
Sergeant John Faicco with the Teton County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) told Buckrail that the call was received just after 3 p.m. on Aug. 22. Sheriff’s officers responded to the incident and collected information for the record and for insurance purposes of the driver. There was damage reported to the vehicle that struck the bear.
“What is known is [the] driver was traveling eastbound, bear jumped over the guardrail giving the driver no time to swerve,” Faicco said. “Collision occurred, damage to the passenger side, front bumper of the vehicle.”
According to Faicco, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) responded after the initial call. WGFD Public Information and Education Specialist Raegin Akhtar confirmed to Buckrail that the bear was an adult male black bear, and that the incident occurred near milepost 9. No other details were available as of Monday afternoon. Learn about what to do in the event of a wildlife-vehicle collision here.
Akhtar said that WGFD staff is busy responding to a “significant increase in black bear activity” across the valley. As bears enter hyperphagia and bulk up on calories ahead of winter hibernation, these incidents tend to take place near residential areas, with bears accessing garbage and bird feeders.
“We encourage residents who encounter bears or experience conflicts on their properties to report these instances to us as soon as possible,” Akhtar said via email. “The sooner we receive these reports, the better chance we have of preventing issues from becoming chronic. … The best way to help a bear is to make sure it never learns that our neighborhoods are a place to find food.”
