Bear on Casper Mountain euthanized

Friday, June 27, 2008 12:44 PM MDT

Biologists with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department trapped and euthanized a black bear on June 24 after it broke into a cafeteria and a grain shed and then killed several chickens on Casper Mountain.

This is the third black bear to be trapped on Casper Mountain this spring, but the first to be destroyed.

“It has been a busy summer on Casper Mountain with bears, and we’re ‘bearly’ a week into it,” said Daryl Lutz, Wildlife Management coordinator in Casper.

A bear was trapped and released June 7 after being attracted to trash in a Casper Mountain neighborhood; another bear was trapped and released May 14 after causing some minor damage in a Casper Mountain neighborhood, where residents were feeding wildlife.

Biologists believed these two bears deserved another chance in remote areas away from human presence.

Unfortunately, the 3- to 4-year-old, 155-pound male black bear that was euthanized showed behavior that biologists deemed to be dangerous to people and was thereby not suited for release.

“It’s a shame that we’ve had to resort to destroying a bear,” said Robin Kepple, information specialist for the Casper Game and Fish office.

“With a bit of help from residents on Casper Mountain, we can avoid incidences like this in the future through the proper storage of attractants, such as garbage, birdseed and pet food or livestock feed.”

Bears are attracted to human food sources and quickly can become accustomed to receiving food rewards around humans. Once that happens, they become habituated to people and often become more brazen and sometimes overly aggressive.

When a bear is deemed to be a threat to human safety, Game and Fish has no choice but to euthanize the animal.

“Frankly, it is distasteful to have to do and it’s simply a waste, especially considering there are some easy steps homeowners can take to remove attractants,” Lutz said.

Simple steps, such as storing trash indoors and hanging bird feeders out of a bear’s reach (10 feet high and 4 feet from vertical supports), can make a significant difference.

Birdseed and hummingbird food are major attractants for bears and a lot of bear problems start with bird feeders. Trash is another major cause of bear/human conflicts.

“If a bear comes on your property and is rewarded with food, such as trash, hummingbird food or dog food, not only have you helped create a problem bear that might eventually have to be destroyed, you have also created a human safety issue for yourself and your neighbors,” Kepple said.

The sooner the Game and Fish can intervene and get the bear trapped, the more likely the bear can be relocated. If you have a bear showing up on your property, contact the Game and Fish as soon as possible for both the bears’ and people’s benefit.

The Game and Fish Department has been working to educate Casper Mountain residents on how to live responsibly in black bear habitat. A bear safety workshop was offered at the Hogadon Ski Lodge in March, several articles and news stories have appeared in local media, and Department employees have gone door-to-door on Casper Mountain handing out information on preventing conflicts with bears.

“We’re planning to continue these efforts throughout the summer and into the fall as bears begin preparing to den for the winter,” Kepple said.

The Game and Fish Department is seeking assistance from Casper Mountain residents to create a Bear Wise Community. “We need to hear from residents, homeowner’s associations and other community groups or individuals who can help us get in touch with mountain residents to help teach others how to live safely with bears.”

For more information, contact Robin Kepple at 473-3409.

People who share habitat with bears should practice several steps that help reduce conflicts with bears by eliminating food sources around human development:

* Minimize odors and the availability of food rewards throughout your property.

* Put out garbage on the day of pick-up, not the night before. Store in a sturdy building or place in an approved bear-resistant trash receptacle.

Game and Fish can provide information on where to purchase bear-proof trash receptacles, or a product guide may be viewed or downloaded at www.lww.org.

* Keep barbecue grills clean and grease free. Store with livestock/pet feed and other attractants inside a sturdy building.

* Fruit trees: pick all ripe fruit from the tree and surrounding ground.

* Electric fences are an effective way to keep bears out of orchards, gardens, compost piles and beehives. Follow appropriate safety precautions.

* Never feed wildlife. Nearly any food source can attract bears. Do not leave pet food outside. Hang bird feeders out of a bear’s reach (10 feet high and 4 feet from vertical supports) and take down at night and during periods of high bear activity.

All wildlife can be dangerous. Do not attempt to chase or harass a bear out of your yard.

Contact Game and Fish at 473-3400 for assistance. For more information, log onto the Center for Wildlife Information Web site at www.bebearaware.org.

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