Wood River Valley black bears are back in town and finding residential garbage

Idaho Fish and Game continues to receive multiple reports of black bears visiting homes and neighborhoods throughout the Wood River Valley. Many of the reports are of black bears accessing residential garbage carts that have not been secured in a garage or locked storage area. 

To keep bears wild, it is everyone’s responsibility to keep all attractants like human sources of food, bird seed or pet food secured and out of reach of bears.

Valley residents have reported bears throughout the Wood River Valley.

Bear sighting leads to school shelter in place

On Thursday, August 29, 2024, a young adult black bear was reported near Alturas Elementary School in Hailey. The report led the Blaine County School District to issue a shelter in place for the school for student safety.

Hailey City Police and an Idaho Fish and Game conservation officer monitored the bear while wildlife biologists responded from Jerome.

Once on scene, Fish and Game staff successfully darted the adult bear, allowing the bear to be safely transported and released near Galena Summit. 

“Our understanding is the bear recently wandered into Hailey and found an abundance of apples in the backyard of a home in the Woodside neighborhood” according to Brandyn Hurd, senior conservation officer, “since this bear just appeared in town, we didn’t have any evidence that the bear was food conditioned and because of the circumstances near the school, we determined the bear could be safely darted and immobilize allowing us to transport it north of Ketchum, well away from Wood River Valley communities.”

Multiple bear reports in mid-valley

Over the last three weeks, multiple residents have detected bears roaming their neighborhoods in mid-valley subdivisions. Numerous residents reported that bears had knocked over garbage carts to get access to food.

Bears finding food in residential garbage is concerning since food-conditioned bears can quickly become a public safety issue for residents and their pets.

To avoid future incidents, residents must secure their garbage in a garage or locked shed to keep it away from a hungry bear. 

Garbage carts must not be put curbside until the morning of pick-up.

Once food-conditioned, bears can start to guard garbage carts, making them a threat to public safety.

Report urban bears 

Biologists are urging residents to report any bear activity around homes and neighborhoods, especially if the bear is getting access to residential garbage.

Early reporting can allow Fish and Game staff to work with residents to proactively haze bears away from homes and neighborhoods, reducing the chances of a bear becoming food conditioned.

Reports of urban bears can be made to the Magic Valley Regional Office at (208) 324-4359.

Report all bears displaying aggressive or threatening behavior to your local county sheriff by calling 911.