Bear encounters are increasing and it’s not just in mountain campgrounds. Early Sunday morning a bear decided to visit the Anderson family in Uintah County. The visitor was clearly hungry as he ate all the peaches off their tree, broke the tree in half, and made a giant mess of the trash cans. According to the Division of Wildlife Resources, this isn’t an isolated incident in the valley and beyond as bear encounters have increased statewide. If you have a bear encounter or suspect it was a bear who rummaged through your garbage or belongings, call the DWR Regional Office in Vernal at 435-781-9453. If camping, be more diligent in cleaning up meals, lock away garbage, and keep any scented items inside a closed area.
