MOOSE, Wyo. — Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) announced Friday morning that a black bear had gotten into human food left unattended on the shore of Phelps Lake last week.
According to the park, this follows three other recent incidents of black bears accessing human items left along lakeshores while visitors were recreating in the water. In the last five years, almost half of all human-black bear conflicts within the park have occurred around lakes.
“Commonly, when a bear finds human food, it involves visitors abandoning their items for just a moment — but just a moment away from your backpack can result in a bear’s death,” GTNP’s press release says.
Bears who become accustomed to relying on human food are known as “food-conditioned,” which can spell trouble when their behavior in seeking food becomes bolder, threatening public safety. Bears deemed too aggressive in their pursuit of human food are sometimes lethally removed from the population.
To curb bears’ access to human food, GTNP requires proper food storage. This includes disposing of all waste in bear-proof trash receptacles, as well as keeping anything scented (food, toiletries) in a vehicle or a bear-resistant food storage locker.
“Be a steward for Grand Teton’s bears,” the press release says. “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.”
For more information on staying safe in bear country, see go.nps.gov/tetonbears.
