Island Park Idaho

While we haven’t seen the bear activity this year we did last, there are still bears in the area and to be safe, you need to be wise about how you police your campsite or cabin. Any food — any food however small, distasteful, unappetizing, etc., — is a magnet for bears. They can smell food a mile away (literally) and will come to get it.

So if you’re in a cabin, please refrain from even the most basic sources of food, including dog food, cat food, or even bird feeders. If you’re RV camping, take your food inside at night. If you’re in a tent, tie your food in a tree high enough a bear can’t get to it. If you can jump as high as you can and touch it, a bear can too. Make sure it’s up there high enough to truly be safe. That includes food in coolers. Don’t think bears can’t smell food in a cooler, or that they can’t get in. They will smell it and they will destroy it to get what’s inside.

We want your independence day weekend in Island Park to be the highlight of your summer. A large part of that enjoyment comes from being bear aware and avoiding any potential problems. You don’t want to be out there in the middle of the night in your underwear with no shoes on running from an angry grizz just because you forgot to hang up your food. A few simple precautions will make this the best weekend of the year. See you soon!