Cover Image of Yellowstone Black Bear By Pat Gaines
Two black bears have been killed in Yellowstone following several encounters with humans, including a woman getting bit through a tent.
National Park Officials have become alarmed by the seriousness of the bear-related incidents in recent weeks that have seen bears damaging tents and vehicles in search of human food.
Last month at a backcountry campsite along Little Cottonwood Creek, a black bear bit into a tent and bruised a woman’s thigh, the park reported Thursday. Fortunately for the woman, the bite did not break the skin because of the thickness of the tent fabric and sleeping bag.
Park rangers suspected the bear was one that had caused problems in previous years near the campsite. They set up cameras and a decoy tent at the campsite to see if the bear continued its behavior. On June 11, rangers were on the scene when the bear returned and aggressively tore up the decoy tent. As a result, the bear was put down.
At another campsite along the Lamar River Trail, a bear consumed 10 pounds of human food that was left unattended. The next evening the bear returned. Campers at the campsite tried to hazing the bear away, but their attempts failed. The bear was killed on July 10.
“These incidents serve as unfortunate reminders that human carelessness doesn’t just endanger people, it can also result in a bear’s death,” the park reported. “Allowing bears to obtain human food even once often leads to them becoming aggressive toward people. All of us play a role in keeping both bears and people safe.”
Yellowstone urges visitors to educate themselves on bear safety.