The saying goes, “A fed bear is a dead bear,” and that proved itself true over the weekend in Grand Teton National Park. A female sub-adult black bear was recently euthanized in the park for exhibiting food-conditioned behavior, and another female sub-adult black bear was relocated for habituated behavior.
Both bears had exhibited bold behaviors around visitors, one in the Jenny Lake area and another along the Moose Wilson Road. The one in the Jenny Lake area had received food rewards in the past and had begun approaching visitors. Park Spokesperson Denise Germann says park rangers strongly reminds visitors and local residents that proper storage of food items and responsible picnicking are vitally important in bear country.
Picnickers should only have immediate use items out so that if a bear approaches, food items can be quickly gathered, removing the opportunity for the bear to receive a food reward. Visitors should also store food and scented items in bear-resistant food lockers that are located throughout the park or in a hard-sided vehicle. The bear along the Moose-Wilson road had been approaching cars begging for food.
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