Experts stress wildlife safety after an increase in bear sightings throughout Utah. 

• Cover photo courtesy of Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

"Old Ephraim, Old Ephraim, your deeds were so wrong, Yet we build you this marker and sing you this song. To the king of the forest so mighty and tall, we salute you, Old Ephraim, the king of them all."—poem by Nephi J. Bott, engraved on a stone monument in Cache County.

If you were a child growing up in Northern Utah, chances are you heard the terrifying story of Old Ephraim—the fearsome grizzly bear of Logan Canyon that hunted children, small pets and livestock. It was said that the 11-foot, 800-pound beast could dismantle any bear trap and could rip through a 9-inch log with just one bite.

In reality, while the legendary creature did cause havoc for the homesteaders of the early 20th century, Old Ephraim, like most wild animals, would only kill what he needed to survive and spent his days avoiding humans, not confronting them. (This was even notated by Frank Clark, the rancher who eventually trapped and brought down the bear.)

After Old Ephraim's death, local encounters with grizzlies abruptly stopped, and they haven't been seen in the Beehive State since the 1920s. However, Ephraim's smaller and stockier cousin, the black bear, can be found rambling throughout Utah's forests, mountains and canyons. And, like the grizzly, the black bear will occasionally come in contact with his human neighbors.

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• Cover photo

Although these encounters are uncommon, they've recently been on the rise, according to Darren DeBloois, game mammals coordinator for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR).

"We have seen more of these incidents in the last couple of years—in particular, there has been an increase this year," DeBloois said. "We think this may be due to our late, cold spring. This season, we lost some of our berry crops—elderberry, serviceberry, chokecherry—and bears rely upon these fruits to supplement their diet."

Because bears are omnivores, they obtain their energy and nutrients from both plants and animals. Most of a black bear's diet consists of nuts, berries, honey and plants, which are affected by seasonal weather patterns. "With the lack of berries, bears are moving around more, to find more resources," DeBloois added. "This means they are coming in contact with more people, which means more close encounters."

Fortunately, despite what Hollywood would have us believe, bears are not ominously lurking in the forest stalking unsuspecting prey.

Like most wild animals, bears do not show an affinity for human flesh. However, it is true that bears may attack a human if they feel threatened or are defending their offspring. (After all, there is a reason the term "mama bear" is used to describe a protective mother.)

"While they will eat larger animals, most of their protein actually comes from insects," DeBloois observed, "which they get from digging through logs, grubs and things like that."

Nevertheless, because their taste buds are similar to ours, a bear will gladly consume a deli sandwich, a bag of chips or a pepperoni pizza, especially if they're easy to locate and reach. And with their heightened sense of smell, bears can easily detect a campground filled with human goodies.

"Bears are smart animals and they do learn tricks to use the least amount of energy to gain the most calories," DeBloois explained. "Once they discover a human site with food, they will inevitably keep coming back."

Unfortunately, if a bear does come in close vicinity to a human, it may become frightened and even aggressive. And in cases where an attack has occurred, wildlife managers are compelled to relocate the animals or, in more serious cases, euthanize them.

"An average female black bear is around 150 pounds, while a male can reach upwards of 300 pounds," DeBloois said. "So if a bear does attack, the chance of getting severely injured is quite likely."

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In the Wild
Amidst bears searching for food and expanding their territories, the possibility of human-animal contact has been greatly enhanced. So far this year, DWR has received 90 nuisance reports involving bears, compared to 53 in 2023.

This has put both species at a higher risk of conflict, particularly the bears. Sadly, close encounters of the human and bear kind often result in euthanization for the animal.

For DWR, the summer of 2024 was exceptionally difficult regarding these types of occurrences. On July 23rd, DWR received a report from the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest Service that a precocious 2-year-old male bear had gotten into trash at several campsites and dumpsters at the Soapstone Campground. The bear was trapped on August 3 by state officials.

Around this same time, they were also notified that a curious 5-year-old black bear was visiting several campgrounds in American Fork Canyon, including Granite Flats, Timpooneke, Salamander Flat, Altamont and Silver Lake. On the morning of July 27, the bear was captured in a culvert live trap at the Timpooneke Campground.

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According to Faith Heaton Jolley, Public Information Officer of DWR, it was determined that the bears were "habituated to getting food from areas with people, which can create a dangerous situation that would not be solved by simply relocating the bear. "

Consequently, both animals had to be put to sleep.

Then, on July 31 between 1:15 and 1:30 pm, a human-bear encounter turned dangerous. A jogger had been trail running in the Mill D North Fork Trail area of Big Cottonwood Canyon when he heard a noise in the distance. Unexpectedly, an adult bear emerged from the brush and began approaching the man.

The man immediately backed away and tried to make himself look big, but unfortunately tripped over a log. This action startled the bear, causing the animal to charge. As the bear bit the upper part of the jogger's arm, the man began to fight and kick back. Luckily, he was able to free his arm from the bear's jaws and get away to safety.

DWR conservation officers and biologists responded to the scene and used tracking hounds to locate the bear later that evening. "Because the bear had shown aggressive behavior and injured a person, it was euthanized," Jolley said.

While Jolley explained that it can be necessary to put down an animal that has interacted with humans, she said those situations remain heartbreaking for division personnel. She said it's crucial that Utahns keep their campsites and other areas clean in order to avoid attracting bears.

"Our staff got into the wildlife profession because we love wildlife. We enjoy managing and protecting animals so Utahns can get outdoors and enjoy them," Jolley said. "Having to euthanize an animal is really hard and is not a decision we make lightly."

Bear Necessities
Fortunately, as Jolley explained, there are simple actions that campers and hikers can take to "bear-proof" their sites and which, in turn, will reduce the chance of an "unwanted rendezvous." These include properly storing food and supplies, including scented items like deodorant and toothpaste, and not leaving items on tables or in tents.

She also stressed the importance of keeping cooking areas and campsites clean. Oil and grease from food preparation should not be dumped on the ground; instead, it should be collected in a container and taken with campers when they leave. Food scraps and trash should also be collected and removed.

"By keeping your camping area clean, you reduce the chance that a bear will smell food and trash, and be lured to your camp," Jolley stressed. "And, if a bear does make its way to the area where you're staying, if it isn't rewarded with food, it will likely move on."

Now that Utah is entering the autumn months, the possibility of coming across a bear actually increases. This is because bears are preparing for winter and hibernation, which requires them to be out and about continually.

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During this time of year, the animals will need to eat and drink nearly nonstop to put on additional weight—a process called hyperphagia.

As DeBloois further explained, female bears that are pregnant need to consume even more calories to get them though the winter months. This means they are even more likely to be spotted.

"Although bears mate in early summer, there is a delayed implantation of the embryo. So the egg gets fertilized but won't implant unless the female is able to gain enough weight," DeBloois explained. "If the female does consume enough calories, she will give birth in December or January, usually to twins. The cubs are fairly aware and will nurse and move around during that time. Meantime, the mother will wake up when necessary to tend to her little ones."

While adult males will usually enter their hibernation burrows in mid-December, females tend to enter their dens around the beginning of November.

Because young bears stay with their mothers for about 18 months, if she already has cubs, she will bring them with her into the shelter.

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Around the beginning of March, males and females without offspring will start to emerge from their caves—whereas momma bears will remain inside with their cubs until late April.

Naturally, the harsher the winter, the less foliage and plant life will be available in the spring. Given these circumstances, a black bear is far more likely to venture into human territory.

It is by being aware of your surroundings and environmental conditions that you can avoid stumbling upon a hungry bear. However, in the unlikely event you actually do come face to face with a black bear, Jolley recommended tried and tested safety tips.

She emphasized that in the event of a bear encounter, it's best to stand your ground—don't back up or lie down, stay calm and give the bear a chance to leave. It's a bad idea to run away or attempt to climb a tree—bears are excellent climbers and can move at up to 35 miles per hour.

If a bear stands up, grunts, moans or makes other sounds, it's not being aggressive—these are ways that a bear gets a better look or smell and expresses interest. And rather than "playing dead," Jolley said it's best to fight back if attacked, as people have successfully defended themselves using rocks, sticks, backpacks, waterbottles or even their hands and feet.

With an adult bear population of around 2,000, all Utahns can do their part to ensure these creatures remain safe, healthy and secure, and that both human and bear can live in peace. "Let's try to keep our distance from bear territory," DeBloois said. "This way, nobody gets hurt—the people or the bear."