{"id":21104,"date":"2025-08-28T10:14:34","date_gmt":"2025-08-28T17:14:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.azgfd.com\/?p=21104"},"modified":"2025-08-28T10:15:44","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T17:15:44","slug":"heading-north-be-bear-aware","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.azgfd.com\/2025\/08\/28\/heading-north-be-bear-aware\/","title":{"rendered":"Holiday weekend plans up north? be bear aware"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>NEWS RELEASE <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Aug. 28, 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>PHOENIX \u2013 Planning to spend some time outdoors in Arizona\u2019s high country this Labor Day weekend? The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is reminding campers, hikers and other outdoor recreationists how important it is to be \u201cbear aware.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While bears are typically shy and tend to avoid humans, their excellent sense of smell and affinity for food sources from humans can be problematic for both the animals and people. AZGFD officials advise those living in or visiting bear country to remove or block access to trash, food or other attractants (such as pet food or birdseed). Unfortunately, a fed bear all too often becomes a dead bear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIf a bear becomes habituated to getting food from trash cans and other human sources, it\u2019s only a matter of time before it loses its fear of people and begins to actively search out human food sources,\u201d said Larry Phoenix, AZGFD\u2019s regional supervisor in Flagstaff. \u201cAt that point, the bear becomes a threat to public safety.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some tips to avoid attracting bears:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>When camping<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Keep food and attractants secured and inaccessible to bears. Do not keep food in a tent.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Don&#8217;t burn leftover food or trash on the grill.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Set up a campsite away from places where bears might forage for food, such as creeks, rivers and other bodies of water.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>When hiking<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Don\u2019t wear scented lotions or perfumes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Make noise or hike in groups.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hiking with a pet? Keep it on a leash at all times.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>In case of a bear encounter<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Do NOT run.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Back away slowly while maintaining eye contact with the bear.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Make yourself as large and imposing as possible. Stand upright and wave your arms, jacket or other items. Make loud noises, such as yelling, whistles, and, if camping, banging pots and pans.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Throw items and yell at the bear.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If attacked, fight back with everything in your power \u2013 fists, sticks, rocks, and E.P.A.-registered bear pepper spray.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>And if you live in bear country, here are some tips to secure your home<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Keep all trash inside a secured area until collection day. If that\u2019s not possible, keep food waste in a bag in the freezer and place those in the trash as close to collection time as possible.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Don\u2019t feed bears or other wildlife. Be aware that human behaviors, such as feeding other animals, can attract black bears.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep pet and livestock food inside or remove all uneaten food.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hang bird feeders at least 10 feet above ground and away from buildings, including porches, and use a tray to catch spills. Take bird feeders down at night. Discontinue feeding if a bear is in the area.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Clean barbecues and store in a secure area.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Bears exhibiting aggressive behavior toward people or hanging out in areas where there is human activity should be reported to AZGFD by calling&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (623) 236-7201.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.azgfd.com\/wildlife-conservation\/living-with-wildlife\/living-with-bears\/?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=govdelivery\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">AZGFD&#8217;s Living with Bears web page<\/a>&nbsp;is a great resource for everything from bear facts to safety essentials.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>AZGFD also has produced a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=govdelivery&amp;v=GUF7tXcEFHQ\">video<\/a>&nbsp;on how to be \u201cbear aware.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>AZGFD shares essential tips for staying safe while recreating in bear country. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":21105,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[92],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21104","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-main-site"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Holiday weekend plans up north? 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