Yellowstone Black Bear Put Down

A Yellowstone black bear acclimated to human food was put down at Canyon Campground on Saturday night.

At approximately 3:30 p.m. that day, a 142-pound adult male black bear entered the Canyon Campground and approached within six feet of a man and woman eating. The campers backed off and the bear ate some of their  food. The bear also went through the campers’ garbage and sniffed and pawed at their tent. The bear then left the site and sniffed and pawed at other tents, bear-proof dumpsters and bear-proof food storage boxes and dug through fire pits in other campsites in the campground.

Rangers responded and hazed the bear out of the campground, but the bear returned and re-entered the campground. Due to safety concerns for park visitors, the bear was shot and killed at approximately 9:00 p.m.

Park visitors are reminded to keep food, garbage, coolers and other attractants stored in hard-sided vehicles or bear-proof food storage boxes. This helps keep bears from becoming conditioned to human foods, and helps keep park visitors and their property safe.

Hikers in bear country are encouraged to travel in groups of three or more, carry bear pepper spray, make plenty of noise on the trail, and to be alert for the presence of bears. If a bear charges during a surprise encounter, stand your ground, do not run, and use your bear pepper spray.

Generic black-bear photo (no, this is not the one put down) courtesy of National Park Service.