PARK CITY, Utah – This mama black bear was spotted along the Mid-Mountain Trail Sunday morning while reader Ben S. was mountain biking with friends.

“I was on Mid-Mountain coming from Park City right before Red Pine. I was ahead and scared the cub down trail. My friend was behind and when the sow came down he got the photo,” Ben said.

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and local officials have reported an increase in bear activity. If you encounter a bear, stay calm and avoid running. Make yourself appear larger by raising your arms and speaking in a firm, calm voice. Slowly back away, keeping an eye on the bear but avoiding direct eye contact, as this can be perceived as a threat. If a bear approaches, stand your ground, and if it becomes aggressive, use bear spray if available. Always report sightings to local authorities to help manage and track bear activity in the area.

What to do if you encounter a bear

According to Wild Aware Utah, if you encounter a bear while recreating, you should:

Know bear behavior. If a black bear stands up, grunts, woofs, moans, or makes other sounds, it’s not being aggressive. These are ways a black bear gets a better look or smell and expresses its interest.
Stand your ground. Never back up, lie down, or play dead with a black bear. Make yourself look bigger by raising your arms and standing tall. Stay calm and give the bear a chance to leave. Be prepared to use bear spray or another deterrent.
Don’t run away or climb a tree. Black bears are excellent climbers and can run up to 35 miles per hour — you cannot outclimb or outrun them.

Additional Bear Safety Information

TownLift reader @jtparkcity captured this video of bear activity on the Canyons Village side a few days ago.