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HEBER CITY — There have been a few bear sightings in the Heber Valley in recent weeks, and at least one of those bear is still roaming an area near the site of many young girls' camps.
Wildlife officials say bear sightings are common, but they want people to do their part to keep them away.
The concern that we have right now is that if (bears are) continually faced with easy food resources, there's an increased likelihood that they'll continue to come into areas.
–Orin Neal, DWR
"I kind of think we live in his territory," says Georgette Loring, who has a second home in the Timber Lakes Estates, just north of Heber City.
Like some of her neighbors, she has had a close encounter with a bear. "Some of the pictures I have, he was right there," Loring said. "I was really close, but with the door between us so I could close it."
Over the weekend, Loring said the yearling even went on a neighbor's deck where two children were playing. When the bear roared the kids screamed and it ran away.
So far, the young bear has managed to elude a trap set by wildlife officials. They put the trap in the Heber Valley Camp, the site of an girls' church camp.
On Monday, camp was in session. A spokesman for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints says there have been precautionary measures put in place in areas frequented by bears.
- Store your food and scented items, such as deodorants and tooth paste. Don't leave them out where a bear can get them.
- Keep your campsite or cabin area clean. Don't toss food scraps and other trash around.
- Don't keep any food in the same area where you're sleeping.
- If an item has a strong smell to it, you should probably leave it at home.
- Never feed a bear.
At the Aspen Lakes Camp, summer activities also continued despite stories of bear sightings nearby. Camp leaders say they heard about the bear and came prepared with bear deterrent pepper spray. They're also keeping food and trash tightly sealed.
Wildlife officials say that's the best thing to do. They let camp operators decide if camp should be closed until the bear is caught.
"The concern that we have right now is that if they're continually faced with easy food resources, there's an increased likelihood that they'll continue to come into areas," said Orin Neal, a conservation officer for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.
This month, the DWR has already trapped two other yearlings in the Heber area and relocated them. If and when this bear is trapped, it won't be relocated. Instead, it will be scared off from returning to areas where people live and camp.
Loring says she loves to see the young bear but knows it could get dangerous. "I think we need to be cautious of him, be aware and alert."
DWR officials say there have also been bear sightings in the outlying areas of Park City. They're asking people in those areas to take their trash out on trash day, not the night before.
Email: syi@ksl.com
