Safety in black bear country

Utah’s mountains and forests are home to thousands of black bears.

Black bears often live in the same places we camp, hike and build our houses. This poses a safety concern for both humans and bears. If a bear obtains food from a home or campsite — even once — it may become aggressive in future attempts. This almost guarantees the bear will have to be destroyed. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect both you and the bear.

Camp and hike responsibly

Sloppy campers and hikers don’t just endanger themselves, but also future visitors. Bears have amazing memories; they will return to a site repeatedly if they ate there at some point in the past. When in bear country, you should:

Maintain a black bear-safe campsite

Store food, drinks and scented items securely (in your vehicle, a bear-safe container or a tree — never in your tent)
Dispose of trash in bear-proof dumpsters, if available
Wipe down picnic tables
Burn food off stoves or grills
Pitch tents away from trails in the backcountry
Always sleep inside your tent
Never approach or feed a bear
Report bear sightings to your campground host

Take precautions while hiking

Stay alert at dawn and dusk, when bears are more active
Go with a group, if possible
Make noise as you travel through dense cover
Stay away from animal carcasses
Store food, trash and scented items (such as sunscreen) in airtight plastic bags
Keep kids in the center of the group

Protect your home and property

If a bear enters your yard, give it an obvious escape route — do not corner it. Black bears can quickly inflict thousands of dollars in property damage. You can reduce or eliminate visits from bears if you:

Dispose of trash carefully

Store trash in a secure location or bear-safe container
Put your trash out for pick-up in the morning, not the previous night
Clean your trash container regularly

Use deterrents

Put up electric fencing
Place bear unwelcome mats (wood planks with nails or screws protruding) in front of doors or windows
Install motion-activated lights or noisemakers
Get one or more dogs
Turn on garden hoses or sprinklers
Spray the bear with bear spray

If you encounter a black bear

Stand your ground. Never back up, lie down or play dead. Stay calm and give the bear a chance to leave. Prepare to use your bear spray or another deterrent.
Don’t run away or climb a tree. Black bears are excellent climbers and can run up to 35 mph — you cannot outclimb or outrun them.
Know bear behavior. If a bear stands up, grunts, moans or makes other sounds, it’s not being aggressive. These are the ways a bear gets a better look or smell and expresses its interest.

If a black bear attacks

Use bear spray. Then leave the area. Studies have shown bear spray to be 92 percent successful in deterring bear attacks.
Shoot to kill. If you use a firearm, never fire a warning shot — aim for the center of the bear and keep firing until it is dead. Notify the Division of Wildlife Resources immediately.
Always fight back. And never give up! People have successfully defended themselves with almost anything: rocks, sticks, backpacks, water bottles and even their hands and feet.

Report a nuisance black bear

If you see a bear in a residential area or you encounter an aggressive bear, please contact the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources immediately. We have offices in:

Cedar City, 435-865-6100
Ogden, 801-476-2740
Price, 435-613-3700
Salt Lake City, 801-538-4700
Springville, 801-491-5678
Vernal, 435-781-9453

We will notify a conservation officer or transfer you directly to law enforcement personnel. If your encounter or sighting occurs after business hours (8 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday through Friday), please call the police. They will contact a conservation officer to handle the situation.