Putting food away and following other common-sense tips can help you stay safe this summer in bear country. Photo: Laura Anglin.
It’s camping and picnicking season. Whether you are at a campground, day use area, or on a trail (see what recreation sites and trails are open on DNR-managed state trust lands), please be bear-wise. Black bears can be found in most parts of Washington State. They usually do no harm, but people who are careless with storing food or who feed the wildlife can get into trouble. Photos from the recent Bear Awareness Weekend at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park near Olympia display what can happen when campers fail to store food securely or neglect other basic steps that can discourage a bear-human encounter.
Most bear-human encounters are preventable. They also can be bad for everyone involved. Here are do’s and don’ts for traveling in bear country from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The Cooperative Extension at Washington State University also has tips. They can keep you safe — and the bears, too.
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Tags: DNR, Recreation, trust land, Washington, wildlife
