Grand Teton Euthanizes Black Bear After 1 Was Repeatedly Fed by Visitors
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Sep 16
Grand Teton Euthanizes Black Bear After 1 Was Repeatedly Fed by Visitors
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Sep 16
Summary
Wildlife experts euthanized a black bear Friday in Grand Teton National Park after reports it repeatedly approached visitors near Delta Lake for food.
Park officials said visitors had fed the bear multiple times, conditioning it to seek people out and making it unusually difficult for staff to haze away.
Delta Lake has seen sharply rising visitor traffic, and staff said earlier encounters this year had not yet shown whether the behavior was isolated or a growing pattern.
Poor berry yields this year may push black and grizzly bears to roam more widely as autumn hyperphagia begins, increasing the chance of trail encounters and heightening the need to secure food.