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In the backwoods, be mindful of bear |
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July 6, 2017 |
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The Idaho Panhandle National Forests would like
to remind visitors to the forest to be mindful
of wildlife, particularly bears. Several bear
encounters have occurred this week already.
Whether you hike, mountain bike, or ride horses
on your 2.5 million acres of beautiful national
forest, the following suggestions will help make
the journey safer for you, your companions, and
wildlife:
* Remember, all wildlife can be dangerous. Please do not approach or feed
wild animals, especially bears. Humans aren’t
the only ones that enjoy the warmer weather.
Wildlife—our year-round residents on National
Forests—are more active in the summer.
* We love huckleberries, and, so do bears. With what appears to be a
bumper huckleberry crop this year, be extra
careful and alert when picking berries.
* Bears are generally shy creatures and don't want to come face-to-face
with you any more than you want to meet up with
them. Be sure to make noise when hiking in bear
country: Talk, sing or clap your hands to let a
bear know of your presence.
* Store food in hard-sided vehicles or bear-proof containers. For more
information, read the Idaho Panhandle National
Forests’ Food Storage Requirements. Proper food
storage is required if you’re recreating on
national forest system lands north of Clark
Fork, Lake Pend Oreille and the Pend Oreille
River.
* If hiking with your dog, keep them on a leash, so that they don’t lead
an angry bear back to you.
Taking the time to know before you go, can save
you a lot of time, hassle, and discomfort—all of
which can spoil your summer fun. Keep safety in
mind when you are enjoying the forest, and more
importantly, have fun! More information on
recreating in bear country is online at :
http://www.bebearaware.org/index.html. |
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