Jackson Hole — As the seasons change, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and its wildlife partners in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem remind residents and visitors to be extra vigilant about bear safety. Bears preparing for hibernation are now in a period known as “hyperphagia,” consuming up to 20,000 calories a day to gain the weight they need to survive the winter.
Recently, there has been an increase in black and grizzly bears accessing unsecured human food sources, such as garbage and animal feed, from the Cache Creek neighborhood to South Fall Creek and areas in between. Properly securing these attractants can prevent many human-bear conflicts.
Everyone in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, whether you’re a resident or just passing through, plays a critical role in keeping bears wild and humans safe. Securing attractants—such as trash, livestock feed, compost, or beehives—is essential. Always store garbage in properly latched bear-resistant containers or buildings and wait to put your can at the curb until the morning of pick up. Take down bird feeders until winter.
Another critical step is ensuring that bears don't become comfortable near homes or other human-inhabited areas. If you spot a bear in a residential area, make loud noises—such as shouting or banging pots and pans—to encourage the bear to move on.
For more information:
Contact your local waste hauler about acquiring bear-resistant trash cans.
If you have other types of attractants, such as beehives, contact the Wyoming Game and Fish Regional Office at (307) 733-2321 to learn about additional resources like electric fencing.
Please report any conflicts with bears to Wyoming Game and Fish.
As a reminder, properly securing attractants is now required by local regulations in Teton County and certain areas in the town of Jackson, information about local regulations is available on the Bear Wise webpage.
For more tips on staying safe in bear country, check out Bear Wise Jackson Hole’s Guide to Living in Bear Country.
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