Four bears killed here in 2007

by Michael Moore
Tuesday, January 15, 2008 3:42 PM MST

Four bears were killed around Casper Mountain in 2007, a sign of what the Game & Fish Department sees as a “good, stable bear population” in the area.

“Black bears are not endangered in Wyoming,” said Scott Edberg, regional wildlife supervisor for the Game & Fish. “They’re definitely not endangered in and around Casper.”

Getting an exact number of bears on the mountain is difficult, Edberg said. But given the amount of human interaction with bears and reports from hunters, there appears to be a fair number of bears in the area.

In Bear Area 33, which stretches from Deer Creek in Glenrock through Casper Mountain, a total of seven bears were killed, two euthanized by the Game & Fish and five killed by hunters.

The Game & Fish euthanized the two bears in the Casper Mountain and Muddy Mountain area last year, and two others were killed by hunters in the fall.

Edberg said the Game & Fish got more calls about bears on the mountain in 2007 than anytime he can remember in the last four years. He estimates the Game & Fish answered 3-4 calls per week about bears beginning last June.

“We spent a considerable amount of time, basically from mid-summer to early to mid-November, on a weekly basis dealing with problem bears up on Casper Mountain,” he said.

Bears were reported around cabins on the mountain, at the Girl Scouts’ Camp Sacajawea and in the Garden Creek area. In the fall, one bear even was spotted near the soccer fields in north Casper.

There are several factors as to why the bears had more contact with people, Edberg said, including the fire on Casper Mountain in 2006 and the drought.

This past fall, the Game & Fish opened up Bear Area 33 for hunting. Once two female bears were killed, the season was over.

Pending approval from the Game & Fish Commission in February, the same area will open to hunters again April 15 through May 31 and Sept. 1 through Oct. 31 in 2008. Again, there will be a quota of two female bears.

“If bear hunters harvest two female bears on the 15th and 16th of April, the season closes,” Edberg said.

Lock up your food

The biggest reason that bears interact with humans, Edberg said, is people leave food out that attracts the bears. He said it is important to place food and garbage in locked containers and, if possible, inside a secure, locked building.

“A lot of it has to do with garbage, storage, food-related items left out where the bear can get to it, whether it’s barbecue grills, bird seed, dog food or people intentionally feeding the bears to have them around,” Edberg said.

“They think that’s kind of cool until the next thing you know, the bear’s breaking through your house.”

Anyone who sees a bear roaming around their property should contact the Game & Fish immediately, Edberg said. The department will do everything possible to trap and relocate the bear, he explained.

However, if the animal is aggressive or has become accustomed to human structures and food, it may have to be euthanized.

If the animal’s behavior continues to progress that way, Edberg said, it likely will end up dangerous for either the bear or the human.

“If it’s a human life and death issue, you have the right to defend yourself,” he explained. “If you have to shoot the bear, you’re allowed to do that, but you should immediately report that.”

For more information about bears, call the Game & Fish’s Casper office at 473-3400.

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