An Idaho woman will pay a fine and be placed on probation for breaking camping rules in Grand Teton National Park.
Belinda Arvidson was ordered to pay $5,826.99 in restitution for improper food storage that attracted a grizzly bear to the campsite where it found unattended garbage. Campers in the area took photos and videos of the grizzly bear while it was in Arvidson’s campsite. The campground contained multiple warning signs about bears and proper food storage as well as bear boxes in which food and other items could be stored.
The grizzly was then relocated by park rangers to another area of the park.
The fine to be paid by Arvisdon covers the National Park Service’s costs for this operation, including the cost of a GPS collar now necessary to track the bear’s movement
Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Chip Jenkins said, “Irresponsible behaviors have consequences, and many times it is the wildlife that pays the ultimate price. We all have responsibilities to preserve and protect the incredible wild animals of Grand Teton National Park and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.”
Grizzly bears and black bears are plentiful in Grand Teton National Park. Odors attract bears into parking lots, campgrounds, and picnic areas. All food and items with a smell must be stored in a bear-resistant food storage locker or in a hard-sided vehicle with the doors locked and windows closed day and night. Never store food, garbage, or toiletries in tents. For information about bear safety in Grand Teton National Park visit Safety in Bear Country – Grand Teton National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov).
