Jennie@ifish
07-25-2002, 03:34 PM
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Contact: Anne Pressentin Young (503) 872-5264 Ext. 5356
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us (http://www.dfw.state.or.us) Fax: (503) 872-5700
For Immediate Release July 25, 2002
Aggressive Bears Near Newberry Crater Require Campers and Hikers to be Alert to Potential Dangers
BEND - A growing number of bear-human interactions in and around the Newberry National Volcanic Monument has forced officials to remove and destroy three black bears that lost their fear of humans, and more such efforts are anticipated.
Wildlife officials advise campers and hikers to be aware of necessary safety precautions in areas frequented by bears and to avoid teaching bears bad habits that will lead to their deaths.
"It's been a growing problem for several years," said Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife High Desert Region Manager Chip Dale. "Bears in the area are becoming habituated to humans, and are boldly raiding trash cans, tents and tables at campgrounds for food."
ODFW will not relocate bears habituated to humans. Research indicates these animals will seek human foods in their new habitat or move to an area where human foods are available. Most bears sighted do not cause problems. However, bears that are habituated to human food become a human safety concern. Biologists, landowners or other wildlife managers are left with little choice but to humanely destroy them. About 250 bears are killed each year because they cause damage to agriculture or livestock or threaten human safety.
Biologists have found that situations where many problem bears are found in a small area occur when people unintentionally or intentionally feed bears with human food. As a result, Dale recommends campers in the Newberry Crater area take extra precaution to properly store food and garbage and to keep a clean camp so future problems can be avoided.
The U.S. Forest Service, which manages campgrounds in the Newberry Crater area, is looking at ways to reduce bears' access to human food, such as installing new bear-proof trash containers and food storage boxes. In addition, the Forest Service is considering setting new rules that require campers to keep food in bear-proof containers.
"We have strongly recommended that managers of affected campgrounds provide specially designed bear-proof trash and food storage containers, and that they implement rules and enforcement programs to ensure their use," said Dale. "This will go a long way toward protecting people as well as bears."
U.S. Department of Agriculture-Wildlife Services, U.S. Forest Service, and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife recently cooperated to trap and destroy bears that have grown accustomed to human food at campgrounds in Newberry Crater. Some bears frequenting the Crater may have been trapped and relocated previously, but have returned and are now trap-shy. Removal of these bears may require shooting.
"It's not a pleasant duty for our staff at all," said Dale, "but it's a human safety issue. We do not want to see bears harming people."
In summer and early fall, bears sometimes feed every waking minute to gear up for winter hibernation, a behavior known as hyperfagia. This year, some bears throughout the state have had difficulty finding natural food due to drought conditions, which has made them more prone to seek human food.
Discouraging bears
When camping, the best method of avoiding bears is to remove access to food sources. Campers should take the following safety measures:
· Do NOT feed bears or other wildlife, either by hand or by leaving out food or items such as salt blocks. Wild animals are not pets, and can act very unpredictably.
· Do NOT leave any food items outside or in tents, even if the food or beverage is in an unopened can or box. Place all food items in vehicles or sealed, bear-proof containers.
· Do NOT leave garbage outside. Place all garbage, including fish offal, in sealed, bear-proof containers. Backcountry hikers should hang their food and toiletries 10 feet off the ground and 6-10 feet from side supports.
· Do NOT leave unwashed plates, dishes, pots or pans sitting out after eating. Clean all food preparation and eating utensils immediately after using them, and place them in vehicles or other sealed, bear-proof containers.
· Do NOT leave any scented items outside, such as sunblock, insect repellent, shampoo, toothpaste, perfumes or lotions. Do not leave pet food outside. Bears will be attracted to anything with an interesting scent that is a potential food source.
Encountering bears
Anyone who is approached by a bear should immediately call the nearest Oregon State Police or local sheriff's office and report the incident. State wildlife biologists also encourage calling the local ODFW office. Anyone who encounters a bear while camping in a designated campground should immediately report the incident to the campground administrator or camp host.
Anyone who sees a bear should take the following precautions:
· Stay calm. If you see a bear and it hasn't seen you, calmly leave the area. As you move away, speak softly to let the bear discover your presence.
· Do NOT run. Running is likely to prompt the bear to give chase. Back slowly away while facing the bear. Avoid direct eye contact.
· If you encounter a bear on a trail, step off the trail on the downhill side and slowly leave the area. Do NOT run or make any sudden movements. Give the bear plenty of room to escape.
· If a cub is in the area, move away from it. Do NOT get between a bear and its cub.
For more information on living and camping with bears in bear country, call any ODFW office for a copy of the brochure Living with Wildlife: Black Bear or visit the ODFW Web site at www.dfw.state.or.us/ODFWhtml/InfoCntrWild/blackbear3.pdf (http://www.dfw.state.or.us/ODFWhtml/InfoCntrWild/blackbear3.pdf) .
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Contact: Anne Pressentin Young (503) 872-5264 Ext. 5356
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us (http://www.dfw.state.or.us) Fax: (503) 872-5700
For Immediate Release July 25, 2002
Aggressive Bears Near Newberry Crater Require Campers and Hikers to be Alert to Potential Dangers
BEND - A growing number of bear-human interactions in and around the Newberry National Volcanic Monument has forced officials to remove and destroy three black bears that lost their fear of humans, and more such efforts are anticipated.
Wildlife officials advise campers and hikers to be aware of necessary safety precautions in areas frequented by bears and to avoid teaching bears bad habits that will lead to their deaths.
"It's been a growing problem for several years," said Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife High Desert Region Manager Chip Dale. "Bears in the area are becoming habituated to humans, and are boldly raiding trash cans, tents and tables at campgrounds for food."
ODFW will not relocate bears habituated to humans. Research indicates these animals will seek human foods in their new habitat or move to an area where human foods are available. Most bears sighted do not cause problems. However, bears that are habituated to human food become a human safety concern. Biologists, landowners or other wildlife managers are left with little choice but to humanely destroy them. About 250 bears are killed each year because they cause damage to agriculture or livestock or threaten human safety.
Biologists have found that situations where many problem bears are found in a small area occur when people unintentionally or intentionally feed bears with human food. As a result, Dale recommends campers in the Newberry Crater area take extra precaution to properly store food and garbage and to keep a clean camp so future problems can be avoided.
The U.S. Forest Service, which manages campgrounds in the Newberry Crater area, is looking at ways to reduce bears' access to human food, such as installing new bear-proof trash containers and food storage boxes. In addition, the Forest Service is considering setting new rules that require campers to keep food in bear-proof containers.
"We have strongly recommended that managers of affected campgrounds provide specially designed bear-proof trash and food storage containers, and that they implement rules and enforcement programs to ensure their use," said Dale. "This will go a long way toward protecting people as well as bears."
U.S. Department of Agriculture-Wildlife Services, U.S. Forest Service, and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife recently cooperated to trap and destroy bears that have grown accustomed to human food at campgrounds in Newberry Crater. Some bears frequenting the Crater may have been trapped and relocated previously, but have returned and are now trap-shy. Removal of these bears may require shooting.
"It's not a pleasant duty for our staff at all," said Dale, "but it's a human safety issue. We do not want to see bears harming people."
In summer and early fall, bears sometimes feed every waking minute to gear up for winter hibernation, a behavior known as hyperfagia. This year, some bears throughout the state have had difficulty finding natural food due to drought conditions, which has made them more prone to seek human food.
Discouraging bears
When camping, the best method of avoiding bears is to remove access to food sources. Campers should take the following safety measures:
· Do NOT feed bears or other wildlife, either by hand or by leaving out food or items such as salt blocks. Wild animals are not pets, and can act very unpredictably.
· Do NOT leave any food items outside or in tents, even if the food or beverage is in an unopened can or box. Place all food items in vehicles or sealed, bear-proof containers.
· Do NOT leave garbage outside. Place all garbage, including fish offal, in sealed, bear-proof containers. Backcountry hikers should hang their food and toiletries 10 feet off the ground and 6-10 feet from side supports.
· Do NOT leave unwashed plates, dishes, pots or pans sitting out after eating. Clean all food preparation and eating utensils immediately after using them, and place them in vehicles or other sealed, bear-proof containers.
· Do NOT leave any scented items outside, such as sunblock, insect repellent, shampoo, toothpaste, perfumes or lotions. Do not leave pet food outside. Bears will be attracted to anything with an interesting scent that is a potential food source.
Encountering bears
Anyone who is approached by a bear should immediately call the nearest Oregon State Police or local sheriff's office and report the incident. State wildlife biologists also encourage calling the local ODFW office. Anyone who encounters a bear while camping in a designated campground should immediately report the incident to the campground administrator or camp host.
Anyone who sees a bear should take the following precautions:
· Stay calm. If you see a bear and it hasn't seen you, calmly leave the area. As you move away, speak softly to let the bear discover your presence.
· Do NOT run. Running is likely to prompt the bear to give chase. Back slowly away while facing the bear. Avoid direct eye contact.
· If you encounter a bear on a trail, step off the trail on the downhill side and slowly leave the area. Do NOT run or make any sudden movements. Give the bear plenty of room to escape.
· If a cub is in the area, move away from it. Do NOT get between a bear and its cub.
For more information on living and camping with bears in bear country, call any ODFW office for a copy of the brochure Living with Wildlife: Black Bear or visit the ODFW Web site at www.dfw.state.or.us/ODFWhtml/InfoCntrWild/blackbear3.pdf (http://www.dfw.state.or.us/ODFWhtml/InfoCntrWild/blackbear3.pdf) .
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