Jun 19, 2007 8:58 am US/Mountain
Experts: Keep Food Secure In Bear Country
2 Have Died In Colorado Bear Attacks
DENVER (CBS4) ―
In the wake of a deadly bear attack in Utah over the weekend, wildlife experts in Colorado offered advice for avoiding encounters with bears and had information on what people should do if they actually come face to face with one of the animals.
The death of the 11-year-old boy southeast of Salt Lake City was the first ever deadly attack by a bear in Utah.
Two people have been killed by black bears in Colorado. The last time it happened was in 1993 when a 24-year-old man tried to shoot a bear that broke into his camper in Fremont County.
Last year, a bear did rip through a tent in the Pike National Forest and tried to drag away a 17-year-old boy.
Wildlife experts said things like that typically happen because a bear smells food.
"That child did have food in a sleeping bag," said Tyler Baskfield of the Colorado Division of Wildlife.
Baskfield said it is critical that campers secure food by tying it up in a tree.
"If you hang it higher than 10 feet and 4 feet away from the tree, usually you food is going to be safe and it's not going to be an attractant for bears," he said.
People should always keep trash in bear proof containers and not leave grease on BBQ grills in the wilderness, Baskfield said. Those who live in bear country should never leave pet food outside, including bird feeders.
Personal hygiene products like toothpaste and deodorant can also smell like food to a bear, so experts said to make sure those items are also secured in a campsite.
If a bear is sighted and it acts aggressively, people shouldn't try to run away.
"You want to hold your ground," Baskfield said. "You want to talk to it in a firm voice so that it realizes you're not normal prey and on the off chance it does attack, you want to fight back."
People should try to make themselves look as big as possible during a bear encounter.
(© MMVII CBS Television Stations, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
