In the past few weeks Togwotee Pass, which runs along the Continental Divide in the Absaroka Range of northwestern Wyoming, has experienced a notable rise in bear jams and poor wildlife viewing ethics prompting U.S. Forest Service-Bridger-Teton National Forest to issue an official warning to motorists.
“Managing people stopping in the Togwotee Pass area remains a significant challenge for wildlife managers and law enforcement agencies. Continued unethical viewing practices or conflicts may require further management actions.” -U.S. Forest Service-Bridger-Teton National Fores
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, and U.S. Forest Service staff are currently patrolling the spectacular high mountain pass near Jackson daily to minimize traffic jams and prioritize public safety but it is up to the general public to abide by all the rules set forth by various agencies to reduce these avoidable situations.
“Whether a bear crosses your path on a roadway or you come across one on a hike, it’s important to keep a safe distance to minimize conflict and maintain safety for both you and the bear. By staying back, you allow the bear space to retreat and maintain its natural behavior. It also helps foster an environment where humans and bears can coexist with minimal disturbance to their natural behavior and habitats. We recommend keeping a distance of AT LEAST 100 yards (300 feet), the size of a football field.” -Bear Wise Jackson Hole
Read the entire statement from U.S. Forest Service-Bridger-Teton National Forest below.
Welcome to Bridger-Teton National Forest Statement:
In recent weeks, significant bear jams and poor wildlife viewing ethics have been observed along Togwotee Pass. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, and U.S. Forest Service staff are patrolling the area daily to minimize traffic jams and prioritize public safety.
As a reminder: stopping, parking, or standing on or along the road is illegal and poses significant risks to other motorists and grizzly bears, whose behavior can be unpredictable, particularly with offspring. Bear Wise Jackson Hole, which includes U.S. Forest Service-Bridger-Teton National Forest, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Grand Teton National Park, Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation, Teton County Wyoming, and Town of Jackson, asks that everyone be responsible stewards of wildlife. Please do not contribute to roadside bears becoming exceedingly habituated to human presence. This could result in a bear being needlessly injured or killed, as many other bears have.
A photograph is not worth risking a human’s or a bear’s life. Keep yourself and bears safe and adhere to ethical wildlife viewing and photography practices:
•Never approach bears. Stay in your vehicle and always maintain a distance of at least 100 yards from bears and wolves, and 25 yards from all other wildlife.
•Do not stop your vehicle in the Togwotee Pass area, unless in designated, paved pull outs. This supports ongoing safety efforts.
•Do not feed or make food accessible to wildlife.
•Respect all signs, laws, and regulations – including no stopping, standing, or parking on or along the highway per Wyoming Title 31 (31-5-504(a)/(i)/(J), 31-5-102(a)(vii), 31-1-101(a)(viii), and 31-5-102(a)(xl)).
•Cooperate and follow direction from law enforcement and wildlife officials.
•Slow down and be vigilant while driving. Wildlife have been killed along Togwotee Pass due to collisions with vehicles.
“Traffic jams along Togwotee Pass can cause significant public safety issues. Bear Wise Jackson Hole and our interagency partners are calling upon the public, photographers, and wildlife tour groups to lead by example. Please follow direction of staff in the area; never stop your vehicle in or along the road, except in designated, paved areas; and observe all ethical wildlife viewing and photography practices to help us keep bears wild and people safe.” –Blackrock District Ranger Jason Wilmot
While partner agencies acknowledge the awe of seeing a grizzly bear, adhering to ethical wildlife viewing and photography guidelines while obeying traffic laws is crucial to maintain the wildness of bears and ensure human safety. Approaching, encircling, or blocking a bear’s path impedes its ability to move freely across the landscape and creates opportunities for dangerous conflicts. These behaviors also overly habituate bears to human presence and road traffic, further escalating the risk of a vehicle strike, a human-bear conflict, and a dangerous encounter.
Wildlife managers have invested significant time and resources to prevent conflicts and keep bears away from roadside habitats. Prior efforts have included intensive hazing, using trained Karelian bear dogs, various forms of signage, and staff monitoring the highway from dawn to dusk. Managing people stopping in the Togwotee Pass area remains a significant challenge for wildlife managers and law enforcement agencies. Continued unethical viewing practices or conflicts may require further management actions.
Visit https://bearwisejh.org/ to learn more about how to help keep bears wild and people safe.
images from BridgerTetonNF
