SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — The Soapstone Campground located in northeastern Utah near Kamas is temporarily closed after U.S. Forest Service authorities received reports Tuesday of a black bear frequenting campsites’ trash cans and dumpsters.
According to the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest Service, the Soapstone Campground and surrounding camping areas are currently closed as a “safety precaution” until authorities are able to trap the black bear in the area.
Biologists have placed barrel traps and trail cameras in the area where the bear is believed to be scavenging for food, however, they have yet to be successful. While officials said they have not seen the black bear themselves, they said there is evidence that the bear got into the dumpsters again on Thursday, July 25.
“The U.S. Forest Service is working to get the dumpsters emptied, and we are hopeful that we can catch the bear then,” authorities told ABC4.
The U.S. Forest Service said the situation poses a safety risk to both the bear and the people visiting the area and is reminding the public to always “keep their campsite clean to avoid attracting a bear.”
Officials provided several tips to keep in mind to avoid encounters with bears, including packing your food and scented items — such as deodorant and toothpaste — in a car or locked trailer, thoroughly cleaning all food utensils, and taking the oil and grease used for cooking home with you rather than dumping it out.
They also said to clean your camping area before you go home to avoid attracting bears to campsites after you have left.
For more information on bear safety, visit Wild Aware Utah.
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