The busiest wildlife viewing season is just around the corner, but this year, it comes with a stark reminder for the humans. It’s about etiquette.
Significant bear jams and “unethical viewing practices” are at-issue in the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s call on the public to shape up.
Visitors to Togwotee Pass have especially done a dangerous amount of rubber-necking and interacting with bears outside of cars this spring, the department said in a press release. With grizzly territory expanding, the department said more bears are making homes near the highway.
“Many people mistakenly believe that their presence on the scene is harmless, or even helpful, thinking they are keeping an eye on the bears to help them cross the road safely, ” Large Carnivore Conflict Coordinator Brian DeBolt said. “In reality, every person and vehicle creates an additional safety hazard that these bears have to navigate.”
The department said human-bear interactions are cause for concern and not just for the risk of an attack. They lead to habituated bears which is bad for their survival, too.
The warning comes in the wake of a bear attack in Yellowstone National Park that injured two hikers in early May. Another attack killed a hiker in Glacier National Park a few days later.
If “unethical viewing practices” don’t improve, the department said wildlife managers will consider capture, relocation or removal. That’s for the bears, not the people.
Game and Fish has observed people following and circling bears which may block a bear’s route around the steep mountain pass.
The department is asking the public to stay at least 100 yards away from bears, only use established paved pullouts to park and follow Bear Wise JH guidelines. That also includes driving slowly and staying in a vehicle, storing food and any other attractant properly and not stopping for bear sightings.
