Tragic Loss: Food-Conditioned Black Bear Killed in Yellowstone National Park

MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – On July 11, Yellowstone National Park staff made the tough choice to remove an adult female black bear. This decision followed several alarming incidents involving the bear at a backcountry campsite in the Blacktail Deer Creek area.

Earlier, on June 7, the bear damaged an empty tent. Just weeks later, it climbed a food storage pole and raided campers’ supplies, showing a dangerous trend. While Yellowstone bears usually stay away from human food, occasional cases like this can lead to them becoming food-conditioned. When that happens, they might act aggressively around humans, endangering both people and wildlife.

The decision to euthanize the bear was made based on three main concerns:

• The ongoing risk to human safety.
• Damage to campers’ equipment.
• The bear’s ability to defeat food storage systems to get human food.

Kerry Gunther, a bear management biologist at Yellowstone, stated, “We work hard to keep bears away from human food. But sometimes, a bear finds a way to bypass our efforts. When that happens, we may need to remove the bear to keep people safe.”

Yellowstone’s bear management practices dictate that each of the park’s 293 backcountry camping sites has proper food storage options. Campers must either use a food storage pole or a bear-resistant box to keep food secure. This remains essential for both public safety and to prevent wildlife from adjusting to human food sources.

The last time a bear was killed in management action in Yellowstone was in July 2020, when a bear attacked campers and accessed food at a backcountry site.

Since food-conditioning is a serious issue, recent studies show that almost 50% of bear attacks in the U.S. are linked to food-related incidents. Awareness and adherence to safety protocols can significantly reduce these risks.

For anyone planning to visit Yellowstone, understanding how to safely enjoy the park’s backcountry is crucial. You can find more tips and guidelines on the official website.

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