Yellowstone National Park staff kill black bear

A black bear that refused to leave a Yellowstone National Park campground after obtaining human food was shot by park staff Saturday evening, according to a park media release.

“It is a very rare thing for us to find ourselves in a position to do that,” said Al Nash, chief of public affairs. “It is not something we do annually.”

At approximately 3:30 p.m. Saturday, a 142-pound adult male black bear entered the Canyon Campground and approached within six feet of a man and woman eating. The campers retreated, and the bear ate some of their food. The bear also went through the campers’ garbage and sniffed and pawed at their tent. The bear then left the site and sniffed and pawed at other tents, bear-proof Dumpsters and bear-proof food storage boxes, and dug through fire pits in other campsites in the campground.

Rangers responded and hazed the bear out of the campground, but the bear returned and re-entered the campground. The bear was shot and killed about 9 p.m. because of safety concerns for park visitors.

Black bears are common in the park, with no estimate of their population. In 2010, a female black bear was killed by park staff after it raided a camp near Slough Creek. In 2008 a male black bear was killed after ripping open a backpack along Hellroaring Creek.

Park visitors are reminded to keep food, garbage, coolers and other attractants stored in hard-sided vehicles or bear-proof food storage boxes. This helps keep bears from becoming conditioned to human foods, and helps keep park visitors and their property safe.

Hikers in bear country are encouraged to travel in groups of three or more, carry bear pepper spray, make plenty of noise on the trail, and to be alert for the presence of bears. If a bear charges during a surprise encounter, stand your ground, do not run, and use your bear pepper spray.

Park regulations require that you to stay at least 100 yards from black and grizzly bears at all times. The best defense against bear attacks is to stay a safe distance from bears and use binoculars, a spotting scope or telephoto lens to get a closer look.

Bear sightings should be reported to the nearest visitor center or ranger station as soon as possible.