Buckrail (Jackson, Wyo.) – Over the last few weeks, there have been several calls of bears wondering into campsites, Jackson neighborhoods and even two that entered a home in Hoback in search of food (details and video here).
We spoke to Mark Gocke, the Public Information Specialist for the Jackson and Pinedale regions of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, about why this is happening with bears in the area.
First, this time of year is typically busier for bear encounters because they are experiencing a stage called hyperphagia. According to the North American Bear Center, hyperphagia is a period of excessive eating and drinking to fatten up for hibernation.
Second, there has been a low berry crop this year in Wyoming, so the bears are getting more desperate for food.
“The berry crop this year is marginal at best,” said Gocke. “If there is a lack of natural forage out there, then the bears are going to find food some place and often that means coming into developed areas.”
Gocke doesn’t know why there is a poor berry crop this year, but says that it happens every few years.
“These next couple of months are always busy for bear encounters, but this year it’s worse,” he added. “We are having hears show up in places where they normally don’t.”
Gocke offered some tips to keep the bears and the people safe around Jackson.
1. Eliminate Temptation: According to Gocke, eliminate food opportunities for bears by making sure they cannot access garbage, bird feeders, pet food, livestock feed, compost piles and gardens.
“It is especially critical that people take care of their garbage,” said Gocke. “That is where we have the most bear conflicts and the second is from bird feeders.”
Many houses and complexes in town don’t have bear-resistant containers, so Gocke recommends not putting garbage out the day before the it is picked up, but the same morning.
2. Report Bears: If you see a bear in the city, call the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to report the bear. The department would like to be notified as soon as possible to bear sightings so they can safely relocate them without conflict. If you see a bear where it shouldn’t be, call Jackson Game and Fish at 307-733-2321.
3. Carry Bear Spray and Keep Your Distance: As always, when recreating in the national parks and in the forest, carry bear spray and keep it accessible in case you encounter a bear. Additionally, always keep a distance of 100 yards away from bears.
For more information on bear hyperphagia and safety, visit wgfd.wyo.gov.