Outdoors briefs for June 23, 2011

Glacier to monitor grizzly bear trends

WEST GLACIER, MONT. - Glacier National Park is participating in a long-term interagency program to monitor the trend of the grizzly bear population in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem.

Bait stations, automated cameras and traps will be used to capture and monitor grizzly bears within the park.

The program attempts to maintain a sample of up to 10 radio-marked female grizzly bears out of an estimated population of 300 grizzly bears living in the park.

Bait stations and trap sites will be marked with brightly colored warning and closure signs. For safety reasons visitors are reminded to heed and comply with these signs and not enter areas closed for baiting or trapping.

A man died last year seven miles east of Yellowstone National Park after he wandered into a capture site and was attacked by a grizzly bear.

Trapping efforts will continue at various locations throughout Glacier National Park beginning this month and will last through October.

For further information, contact park bear biologist, John Waller, at (406) 888-7829.

Bear spotted at Big Hank Campsite

PRICHARD - A bear has been spotted numerous times at Big Hank Campsite, located north of Prichard off Coeur d'Alene River Road, leading forest service officials to urge tent and pop-up camper users to select other campsites until the situation dissolves.

Forest Service Recreation Planner Claire Pitner said the bear seems to have been attracted to the campground by "untidy campsites."

Pitner specified no closures have been made and hard-shell camp trailers will still be allowed at the site. She recommended tent and soft-side campers head further north up the road to either Kit Price or Devil's Elbow campground.

"The huckleberries haven't come out yet so I think they're just hungry," Pitner said. "If they smell something they're going to come and investigate."

She said the camp concessionaire spotted the bruin after cleaning up garbage and food that was left in the open.

"We're just asking people in that general area to keep a tidy camp," said the forest service employee. "They should store all food in closed containers."

Idaho Fish and Game has been notified of the potential problem and forest protection agents will be in the area this weekend to warn campers to be wary.

"At this point we're just sort of monitoring the situation," Pitner said.