Island Park Idaho

The number of bears in Island Park has increased dramatically in the last 20 years or so. We have bears that live here and those that travel out of Yellowstone for a visit from time to time.

That was brought into sharper focus last week as a hungry grizzly bear, newly awakened from his long winter’s nap, attacked and killed a moose calf in the Macks Inn subdivision. After a three day feeding frenzy, he retreated back into the forest.

But the fact is there are bears around, even with the snow that’s still there. If you will be camping this Memorial Day (or anytime for that matter,) please handle and store your food such that you don’t become a target of hungry bears.

You can hang it high up between two trees. You can store it in your car or RV. You can do just about anything you want with it short of leaving it within reach of a bear. Bears have a fantastic sense of smell, and you should consider any food left out (even “squirrel food”) a magnet for bears. Having a bear in camp is dangerous for you and your loved ones as well as all those around you. Please help us keep the bears out in the forest by wise food management.