Give moose, bears
room to maneuver
By GREGORY FOLEY
Express Staff Writer
Hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts
should enjoy Idaho’s bountiful public lands this summer, but should be careful
to avoid encounters with certain species of wildlife, the Idaho Fish and Game
Department announced this week.
Lee Garwood, a Fish and Game conservation
officer based in the Wood River Valley, said those who venture into the
backcountry this summer should be particularly mindful of possible encounters
with moose and black bears.
He said people should be especially
vigilant about staying away from moose this time of year because calves that
were born this spring are exploring natural areas in the company of their
protective mothers.
Moose are often found in riparian areas
along the Big Wood River and other regional waterways, Garwood noted. He said
hikers and fishermen should be careful not to startle a moose as they approach
riparian zones, and should keep their dogs away from areas known to be moose
habitat.
"The best thing you can do if your dog
encounters a moose is separate yourself from your animal," he said.
Moose can be very dangerous to humans, and
should be avoided in all situations, Garwood said.
"Avoid them, be aware, and use common
sense," he said.
A major problem with bears, however, is
that one may invite itself into your home, Garwood said. But following a few
simple rules will greatly reduce the chances of a potentially dangerous
encounter.
"With bears in this valley, it comes down
to food and garbage management, most of the time," he said.
To keep bears away from your camp or
residence, Garwood said people should:
- Keep a clean campsite, well away
from cooking and food-storage areas. Hang food supplies in trees to keep them
out of reach of bears.
- If you are camping in an RV, keep
your doors closed at all times.
- While hiking, make noise, travel in
groups during daylight hours, stay on established trails and try to avoid
taking pets into areas with bears.
- At home, delay putting out garbage
cans until the morning of pickup. Also, hang bird feeders out of reach of
bears, or put them away until the fall.
- Don’t leave food items, including
pet food, or debris around your house.
Despite the attraction of seeing an adult
bear or bear cub up close, people should never approach the animals, Garwood
said. "If you see a bear, go in the other direction."
Garwood said bear encounters in the region
have been relatively few so far this year, but could easily increase as the
summer progresses. Bears that have been in the high country foraging in green
areas will eventually come to lower elevations as the hot, dry weather persists
and dries up the landscape, he noted.
"Bears will likely come down to Ketchum as
things dry out," he said.
Kelton Hatch, Fish and Game regional
conservation educator, said campers should also keep a flashlight and pepper
spray close at hand.
"If a black bear attacks, it is suggested
to fight back using everything in your power: rocks, sticks, your fists, or
registered bear pepper spray," he noted.