Tag Archives: Bear

Protect yourself, protect a bear

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PHOENIX — With Arizona’s hottest months right around the corner, how black bears forage for typical food sources will become more challenging. As a result, the chances of them wandering into populated areas in search of an easier meal will be on the rise.

While bears are typically shy and tend to avoid humans, their excellent sense of smell can be problematic for both the animals and humans. Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) officials advise those living or visiting bear country to avoid feeding wildlife and to not leave trash, food or other attractants accessible (such as pet food or bird seed). Unfortunately, a fed bear is a dead bear.

“If a bear becomes habituated to getting food from trash cans and other human sources, it’s only a matter of time before it loses its fear of humans and begins to actively search out human food sources,” said Larry Phoenix, AZGFD regional supervisor in Flagstaff. “At that point, the bear becomes a threat to public safety.”

Here are some tips to avoid attracting bears:

Keep them away from your home

Keep all trash inside a secured area until collection day. If that’s not possible, keep food waste in a bag in the freezer and place those in the trash as close to collection time as possible.
Take bird feeders down at night.
Keep pet and livestock food inside or remove all uneaten food.

When camping

Keep your food and attractants secured and inaccessible to bears. Do not keep food in your tent.
Don’t burn left-over food or trash on the grill.
Set up your campsite away from places where bears might forage for food, such as creeks, rivers and other bodies of water.

When hiking

Don’t wear scented lotions, deodorant or perfumes.
Make noise or hike in groups.
Hiking with a pet? Keep it on a leash at all times.

In case of a bear encounter

Do NOT run.
Back away slowly while keeping your eyes on the bear.
Make yourself look bigger than you are by flaunting your arms or pulling your shirt/jacket up higher than your head.
Throw items and yell at the bear.
If attacked, fight back.

Bear sightings in areas where there is human activity should be reported to AZGFD’s dispatch center at 623-236-7201. For questions, or to obtain a brochure on living with bears, visit www.azgfd.com/wildlife-conservation/living-with-wildlife/.

Necropsy conducted on bear that killed man near Prescott

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s (AZGFD) wildlife veterinarian, Dr. Anne Justice-Allen, conducted a necropsy on the carcass of the adult male black bear responsible for the June 16 killing of Steven Jackson at his property in the Groom Creek area near Prescott, Ariz.

Dr. Justice-Allen’s summary indicated the bear was a 7- to 10-year-old adult male weighing 365 pounds. It was in good condition with no apparent signs of disease.

An examination of the stomach found human remains consistent with the injuries found in the victim. Additionally, native vegetation and seeds were found inside the bear. The amount of body fat on the bear indicated it was in good nutritional condition.

The bear’s brain stem was tested for rabies at the Arizona Department of Health Services state laboratory and the results were negative. Arizona has recorded only one case of a bear having tested positive for rabies, in 1971.

Cause of death of the bear was determined to be from multiple gunshot wounds from a neighbor who was trying to stop the attack.

AZGFD officials believe this bear acted in what appeared to be an unprovoked predatory attack by the animal. Bears are predators, and when acting aggressively toward humans can attack, injure and kill.

Bear attacks and kill man in Prescott area

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PRESCOTT — At approximately 7:50 yesterday morning, the YCSO dispatch center received multiple 911 calls about a man who was being mauled by a bear in the Groom Creek Area. When YCSO deputies and Prescott PD arrived at the scene, which was in a heavily wooded remote area, they found Steven Jackson, 66 years old of Tucson dead of an apparent bear attack, and the bear dead nearby. Deputies called officials from Arizona Game and Fish to respond to the scene as well.

From multiple witness accounts and preliminary investigation of the scene, Mr. Jackson had been sitting having coffee at a table on his property where he was building a home. It appears that a male black bear attacked Mr. Jackson, taking him unaware, and dragged him approximately 75 feet down an embankment.

Neighbors who heard the victim screaming tried to intervene through shouts and car horns, but the bear did not let go of Mr. Jackson until one neighbor was able to retrieve his rifle and shoot the bear to get him to disengage. Unfortunately, by that time Mr. Jackson has succumbed to his horrible injuries.
According to Arizona Game and Fish and confirmed by YCSO this attack, which appeared to be predatory in nature, is highly uncommon and unusual, with only one other fatal attack known since the mid 1980s. At first glance there did not appear to be anything on the site that would have precipitated a attack by the bear, such as food, a cooking site or access to water.

There is no threat to the public as this bear has been put down. The location where the attack occurred was not near recreational sites for camping, but officials still caution revelers to take precautions when camping, such as locking up food in a vehicle and not leaving out items such as toothpaste that may bring a bear to your campsite.

YCSO will be conducting the death investigation, while Game and Fish will investigate what may have caused the attack, but officials at the moment do not have a theory other than a predatory response by the bear. Both investigations are just beginning, and more information will be release when available.

“Our sincere sympathies go out to Mr. Jackson’s family” said Sheriff David Rhodes. “I cannot express how deeply sad this situation is and can only say our prayers are with you.”

YCSO and Game and Fish caution people to not shoot bears that they see unless there is an imminent threat to you or someone else.

Bear activity increases as hibernation period ends

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PHOENIX – The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) has started to receive its first confirmed reports of the year of bear sightings in Arizona. As temperatures rise, bears will come out of their dens searching for food.

Black bears are typically shy and avoid humans; however, they have an excellent sense of smell, which can be problematic for the bears themselves and people.

AZGFD officials advise those living in or visiting bear country not to feed wildlife or leave trash or other attractants, such as pet food or bird seed, accessible because it could lead to a situation where “a fed bear is a dead bear.”

“If a bear becomes habituated to getting food from trash cans and other human sources, it’s only a matter of time before it loses its fear of humans and begins to actively search other human food sources,” says Lt. Shawn Wagner, AZGFD law enforcement program manager. “At that point, the bear becomes a threat to public safety.”

Safety tips to avoid attracting bears:

Keep them away from your home.

  • Keep all trash inside a secured area until collection day. If that’s not possible, keep food waste in a bag in the freezer and place those in the trash as close to collection time as possible.
  • Take bird feeders down at night.
  • Keep pet and livestock food inside or remove all uneaten food.

Camping

  • Keep your food and attractants secured and inaccessible to bears. Do not keep food in your tent.
  • Don’t burn leftover food or trash at the grill or campfire.
  • Set your campsite away from places where bears might forage for food, such as creeks, rivers, and other bodies of water.

Hiking

  • Don’t wear scented lotions, deodorant, or perfumes.
  • Make noise or hike in groups.
  • If you take your pet hiking, always keep it on a leash.

In case of a bear encounter

  • Do NOT run, that could trigger the bear to chase.
  • If attacked, Do NOT play dead, fight back.
  • Attempt to deter, then back away slowly facing forward if the bear keeps approaching
  • Make yourself look bigger by raising your arms or pulling your shirt/jacket higher than your head.
  • Throw items such as rocks and yell at the bear.

Bear sightings in areas with human activity should be reported to AZGFD’s 24/7 dispatch center at 623-236-7201. In an emergency, call 911. For additional information, click here or visit the Living with Wildlife page at www.azgfd.gov

Be Bear Aware: Arizona’s hot, dry conditions may increase bear activity

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PHOENIX — Arizona’s hot, dry conditions have reduced the amount of natural vegetation available to bears in the wild, raising the chance of them wandering into areas they are typically not seen in search of food. Although bears are typically shy and tend to avoid humans, they have an excellent sense of smell, and this can be problematic for bears and people.

Wildlife officials advise those living in or visiting bear country to not feed wildlife or leave trash or other attractants, such as pet food or bird seed, accessible because a fed bear is a dead bear.

“If a bear becomes habituated to getting food from trash cans and other human sources, it’s only a matter of time before it loses its fear of humans and begins to actively search out other human food sources,” says Amy Burnett, AZGFD information and education program manager. “At that point, the bear becomes a threat to public safety.”

Safety tips to avoid attracting bears:

Keep them away from your home

  • Keep all trash inside a secured area until collection day. If that’s not possible, keep food waste in a bag in the freezer and place those in the trash as close to collection time as possible.
  • Take bird feeders down at night.
  • Keep pet and livestock food inside or remove all uneaten food.

Although forest closures or restrictions due to wildfires and hot, dry conditions may temporarily affect access for hiking and camping in parts of Arizona, the following are good tips nonetheless:

Camping

  • Keep your food and attractants secured and inaccessible to bears. Do not keep food in your tent.
  • Don’t burn left-over food or trash on the grill or in a campfire.
  • Set up your campsite away from places where bears might forage for food, such as creeks, rivers and other bodies of water.

Hiking

  • Don’t wear scented lotions, deodorant or perfumes.
  • Make noise or hike in groups.
  • If you take your pet hiking with you, keep it on a leash at all times.

In case of a bear encounter

  • Do NOT run.
  • Back away slowly while keeping your eyes on the bear.
  • Make yourself look bigger than you are by raising your arms or pulling your shirt/jacket up higher than your head.
  • Throw items and yell at the bear.
  • If attacked, fight back.

Bear sightings in areas where there is human activity should be reported to AZGFD’s dispatch center at 623-236-7201. For questions or to obtain a brochure on living with bears, visit www.azgfd.com/Wildlife/LivingWith.