07/15/2026
Wildlife officials urge hikers and campers to take bear safety precautions as recent attacks in Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks raise concerns across the northern Rocky Mountains.
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game has warned residents and visitors that spring can be a critical time for bears because natural food sources are often limited after hibernation. The agency encourages people recreating in bear country to carry bear spray, hike in groups and remain aware of their surroundings.
Harold Rose, manager of the BYU-Idaho Outdoor Resource Center, said several environmental factors have created conditions that could increase encounters between bears and people throughout eastern Idaho.
Officials warn Idaho hikers as bears become more active this spring.
