PHOENIX — With a long holiday weekend right around the corner, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is reminding campers, hikers and other outdoor recreationists to be “bear aware.”
While bears are typically shy and tend to avoid humans, their excellent sense of smell can be problematic for both the animals and humans. AZGFD officials advise those living or visiting in bear country to remove or block access to trash, food or other attractants (such as pet food or bird seed). Unfortunately, a fed bear is a dead bear.
“If a bear becomes habituated to getting food from trash cans and other human sources, it’s only a matter of time before it loses its fear of humans and begins to actively search out human food sources,” said Larry Phoenix, AZGFD’s regional supervisor in Flagstaff. “At that point, the bear becomes a threat to public safety.”
Here are some tips to avoid attracting bears:
When camping
- Keep food and attractants secured and inaccessible to bears. Do not keep food in a tent.
- Don’t burn left-over food or trash on the grill.
- Set up a campsite away from places where bears might forage for food, such as creeks, rivers and other bodies of water.
When hiking
- Don’t wear scented lotions or perfumes.
- Make noise or hike in groups.
- Hiking with a pet? Keep it on a leash at all times.
In case of a bear encounter
- Do NOT run.
- Back away slowly while maintaining eye contact with the bear.
- Make yourself look bigger than you are by flaunting your arms or pulling your shirt/jacket up higher than your head.
- Throw items and yell at the bear.
- If attacked, fight back.
Bear sightings in areas where there is human activity should be reported to AZGFD by calling 623-236-7201. For questions, or to obtain a brochure on living with bears, visit www.azgfd.com/wildlife-conservation/living-with-wildlife/.
AZGFD also has produced a video on how to be “bear aware.”
