A black bear photographed in Utah. Photo: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources // Dustin Stettler

'We enjoy managing and protecting animals so Utahns can get outdoors and enjoy them,' said Mark Hadley, Northern Region outreach manager for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. 'Having to euthanize an animal is really hard and is not a decision we make lightly.'

SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah — A young black bear was euthanized at the Soapstone Campground in Kamas earlier this week after it became “habituated to getting food from areas with people.”

According to Mark Hadley, Northern Region outreach manager for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR), the DWR received a report from the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest Service on Tuesday, July 23, that a black bear had gotten into trash at multiple campsites and dumpsters at the Soapstone Campground the weekend before.

The U.S. Forest Service closed the campground and surrounding areas on July 23, and DWR biologists placed two barrel traps and trail cameras in the area in an attempt to catch the bear, but were unsuccessful at that time.

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“Because there was a large amount of trash in the campground dumpsters, the capture efforts were not successful for several nights because the bear continued to get food from the dumpsters, rather than going to our baited traps,” Hadley said. “There was continued evidence of a bear in the area, due to continued disturbances at the dumpsters.”

On the evening of Aug. 3, a black bear got into trash that had been left out at a camping area approximately a mile east of the Soapstone campground. Biologists believe that this bear was the same bear that visited the campground in late July. This bear, a 2.5-year-old male, was trapped on Aug. 5.

“Because a bear had repeatedly entered the Soapstone campground and this campground looking for food, we determined the bear was habituated to getting food from areas with people and euthanized it to keep people safe,” Hadley said. “After euthanizing the bear, we performed a necropsy and found its stomach full of trash and food from the campsites.”

The DWR has provided the following tips for those recreating in Utah’s bear country, which includes the entire state except for the West Desert:

Bear-proof your food and supplies

Keep your food, snacks, and scented items (like deodorant and toothpaste) in a place where bears can’t access them. Avoid leaving these items out on tables or inside your tent. Instead, store them in a locked trailer or the trunk of your car. By doing so, you’ll reduce the chances of a bear catching their scent. And if a bear does wander into your area, it’s more likely to leave if it doesn’t find any food.

Keep your cooking area clean

After eating, make sure to thoroughly clean all utensils and anything used for preparing or eating food. Avoid pouring oil or grease from pots or pans onto the ground. Instead, collect the oil or grease in a container and take it home with you. Keeping your campsite’s cooking and eating areas clean reduces the likelihood of attracting bears with the smell of food or trash.

Keep your campsite clean

Avoid leaving food scraps and trash scattered around your campsite or cabin area. Instead, collect them in trash bags and take them home with you. Wipe down picnic tables and keep the area clear of food and debris. Maintaining a clean campsite is important because a dirty area can attract bears even after you’ve gone.

Soapstone campground is currently closed. Find updates on the campground’s status here.