BLM Urges Visitors To Be Bear Aware As Spring And Summer Activity Increases
BLM is reminding Oregon public lands visitors to be Bear Aware as spring and summer recreation increases. The agency says simple steps, such as staying alert, making noise and properly storing food and trash, can help protect both people and bears.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Bureau of Land Management is reminding people heading outdoors this spring and summer to take extra precautions in bear country, a message that also applies to many areas of Oregon.
The national reminder comes after recent bear incidents in several national parks and as seasonal bear activity increases across public lands. During spring and early summer, bears are often moving through habitat, searching for food or protecting cubs.
While the BLM’s national release references bear activity across public lands and includes a photo of a grizzly bear in Alaska, the message is still relevant in Oregon, where black bears live throughout much of the state. For local residents, the reminder is especially useful as more people head out for camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, forest road travel and other outdoor recreation on BLM lands, national forests and other public lands.
BLM officials said visitors can reduce the chance of a dangerous encounter by staying alert, traveling in groups when possible, making noise in areas with poor visibility and properly storing food, trash and scented items.
“Public lands managed by the BLM are wild places, and wildlife safety is visitor safety,” BLM Acting Director Bill Groffy said. “Simple actions, like giving bears space, securing food and knowing what to do before you enter bear country, can protect visitors and bears.”
The agency is asking public lands visitors to keep several safety reminders in mind:
- Never approach a bear.
- Stay alert and avoid using headphones on trails.
- Hike in groups when possible.
- Make noise near streams, dense vegetation and blind corners.
- Store food, trash and scented items properly.
- Carry bear spray where recommended and allowed.
- Never run from a bear.
- Remember that bear spray and firearms are tools, not substitutes for awareness and good judgment.
If someone encounters a bear, the BLM recommends staying calm, speaking in a steady voice and backing away slowly. Visitors should avoid sudden movements and should not run. Bear encounters should be reported to a BLM field office once it is safe to do so.
The reminder comes as spring and summer recreation increases across Oregon, including on public lands used for camping, hiking, river access, hunting, sightseeing and backroad travel. Officials said simple planning before heading outdoors can help protect both visitors and wildlife.
The BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land, mostly across 12 western states including Alaska. The agency also oversees about 700 million acres of subsurface mineral estate nationwide.
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