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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Wildlife officials have created new opportunities for hunting black bears in Utah.
The state's population of black bears has risen steadily since the 1990s from 2,000 to 4,100. Wildlife officials say the animals are posing more of a threat to people and livestock.
The Utah Wildlife Board approved new permits, hunting times and hunting areas after hearing that about twice as many bears than average had to be euthanized last year.
Hunters have killed between 230 and 270 bears in each of the past three years. Leslie McFarlane with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources says that number will grow to between 300 and 320 in the 2015 hunting season.
Hunters can start applying for black bear permits on Feb. 9.
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