Respect Wildlife
Thousands of bears live in our forests and mountains. Often the same places we like to camp and hike. This poses a safety concern for both bears and humans. Bears may not be your number one concern when camping, but they should be. Be bear aware. Keep a clean camp site. Don’t keep food, shampoo, or anything with a strong scent in tents or sleeping areas and do not sleep in the clothes you cook in. Help us keep wildlife wild while protecting human and animal life. Follow these steps and be bear aware.
The black bear is the generally the only bear found in this area. However, it is possible to encounter a grizzly bear on the Salmon-Challis National Forest.
Black bears may be any color from black to blonde, but have no shoulder hump like grizzlies, and their claws are black. Few bears in remote areas will come near humans or campsites.
Be Bear Aware-Recreating Safely in Bear Country
Bears that are rewarded by food and other attractants can become problem bears. Our goal is to keep YOU and the bears safe during your visit to our forest. Stored in a bear resistant manner means hung 10 feet off the ground and four feet horizontally from a tree or other structure; stored in a hard-sided camper; vehicle trunk, or cab or trailer cab: in a hard-sided building, or stored using an electric fence.
Approved Storage:
A bear resistant container that has been approved by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee. Please see the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC)- Certified Bear-Resistant Products web page. Most bear-resistant containers sold in local outdoor retail stores meet these requirements.
Mountain bikers, trail runners, and other recreationists take note! When you are on the trails, expect bears to be present. Moving quickly on a trail increases your chance of surprising a bear.
- Expect bears to be present
- Carry bear spray attached to you and readily accessible
- Make noise and slow down
- Avoid evening/early morning
- Avoid going alone
General Information:
- Odors may attract bears.
Keep food and other odorous items (such as deodorants, toothpaste, make-up, soap, and lotions) out of tents, and pitch tents at a distance from the cooking area. Keep the campsite clean. - Hang all food in a tree at night.
Hang the food in a heavy closed plastic bag inside a stout cloth sack at least 10 feet from the ground, four (4) feet horizontally from the tree trunk or other structure, and 5 feet below any branch. Store pet food, livestock feed, and garbage the same as food. - Camp in open areas.
Camp away from trails, thick brush, berry patches, and spawning streams. - Keep food in a vehicle if car camping.
Stop. Do not run. If on a bike, get off, keeping your bike between you and the bear.
Mother black bears with cubs can be dangerous. It should be obvious that feeding bears is very foolish.
When traveling in bear country make your presence known.
- Make noise.
Clap your hands, call out, sing, especially around loud streams, on windy days, and in areas of low visibility. - Be aware of your surroundings.
Look for signs of bear activity: tracks, scat, diggings, torn-up logs, and turned-over rocks. - Keep children close to you.
However, if you are attacked, most wildlife experts recommend that:
- If a bear charges—stand your ground, use your bear spray.
- If a bear makes physical contact- attacks, protect your head and neck, play dead, use your bear spray.