Home | Online Resources | UB Catalog | Campus Libraries | About UB Libraries | Forms | Search | Help

National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior
Grand Teton National Park
John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway

A Fed Bear is a Dead Bear

(Image: Photograph of Black Bear)

Allowing a bear to obtain human food, even once, can result in aggressive, bear behavior. Aggressive bears are a threat to human safety and must be removed or destroyed. Help keep park bears wild and safe. Do not feed the bears for any reason! Failure to follow park regulations is a violation of federal law and may result in citations and fines.

Keep a Clean Camp
After eating and before leaving camp or sleeping, assure that you have a clean, bear-proof campsite:

• All food, containers, and utensils must be stored in a bear box or hidden in a closed, locked vehicle with windows rolled up. The only exceptions are during the transport, preparation, and eating of food.

• Trash and garbage must be stored in the same manner as food, or placed in bear-proof trash cans or dumpsters.

• Treat odorous products such as soap, deodorant, toothpaste, suntan lotion, and perfumes in the same manner as food.

• For your safety absolutely no food, foodstuffs, garbage, or odorous products may be stored in tents or sleeping bags.

• Ice chests, thermoses, water containers, barbecue grills, stoves, dishes, and pans must be stored in the same way as food- hidden inside a locked auto or bear box.

Bear Etiquette

• If you encounter a bear, do not run. If the bear is unaware of you, detour quickly and quietly. If the bear is aware but has not acted aggressively, back slowly away while talking an even tone.

• Never approach a bear for any reason.

• Never allow a bear to get human food. If approached while eating, put food away and retreat to a safe distance (100 yards/91 meters).

• Never abandon food because of an approaching bear. Always take it with you.

• Never throw your pack or food at a bear in an attempt to distract it.

• Never bury food scraps, containers, or fish entrails. Put them in trash cans.

• Never leave food, containers, or garbage unattended in camp. Bears are active day and night.

Since 1996, seven bears have been destroyed in this park due to improper storage of human foods by park visitors. These bears obtained human foods, became aggressive in their pursuits, and had to be killed.

What kind of bear is that?

Grizzly Bear
Color                                   Ranges from blond to nearly black, sometimes have silver-tipped guard hairs that give them a "grizzled" appearance.

                               

Physical Features               Grizzly bears have a dished-shaped, or concave, facial profile and a large hump of heavy muscle above the shoulders. Their claws are long                                            and relatively straight, extending two or more inches (5cm) beyond their toes.

(Image: Drawing of Grizzly Bear)

Black Bear
Color                                  color is not a reliable indicator of the species. Contrary to their name, black bears are often brown, cinnamon, and/or blond in                                                 color.                      

Physical Features              Black bears have a straight facial profile, and lack a large hump above the shoulders. Their claws are short and curved, usually not extending                                           more than 1 .5 inches (4 cm) beyond their toes. 

(Image: Drawing of Black Bear)

Bear graphics on this page courtesy of the center for Wildlife Information
revised 05/03

Top of page