While bears are not typically found within Salt Lake City’s urban core, they are present in surrounding mountainous areas and can occasionally wander into suburban fringes. This highlights the expanding interface between wildlife habitats and urban development. Understanding bear behaviors and habitats helps residents prepare for potential encounters and promotes harmonious coexistence with wildlife.
Bear Habitats Near Salt Lake City
Utah is home to American Black Bears (Ursus americanus), the only bear species found in the state. Grizzly bears are not present in Utah. These black bears, despite their name, can exhibit various color phases, including brown, cinnamon, or blonde. They primarily inhabit forested mountainous regions, such as the Wasatch Front and the Uinta Mountains, where they find dense cover and ample food sources.
Approximately 80% of Utah’s bear population resides at elevations between 7,000 and 10,000 feet, although they also exist at lower elevations. The Wasatch Front, stretching from Brigham City to Provo and encompassing Salt Lake City, is a notable area where bear encounters have increased since 2019 due to growing bear populations. These habitats are directly adjacent to human development, leading to occasional overlap between bear territories and residential areas.
Why Bears Approach Urban Areas
Bears venture into urban and suburban areas primarily in search of food, especially when natural sources are scarce. Their highly developed sense of smell allows them to detect food from considerable distances, making residential areas with unsecured attractants appealing. Common attractants include garbage, outdoor pet food, bird feeders, compost piles, and fruit trees. These human-provided sources offer a readily available, high-calorie diet, drawing bears away from natural foraging grounds.
Expanding human development into natural habitats also contributes to bears approaching urban fringes. As wild lands are developed, bears find their traditional homes shrinking, pushing them closer to populated areas. Young bears dispersing or those experiencing food shortages, such as during drought years or after late-spring freezes affecting berry crops, are more likely to explore new territories, including residential zones. This can lead to increased sightings in neighborhoods like Salt Lake City’s Marmalade and Big Cottonwood Canyon.
Coexisting with Bears
Living in or near bear country requires practices to minimize human-bear conflicts. Securing potential food sources is a primary measure to deter bears from approaching homes. This includes storing garbage in bear-resistant containers or inside a garage until pickup, rather than leaving it out overnight. Regularly cleaning trash containers also reduces odors that attract bears.
Removing other attractants from yards is important. Bring pet food indoors, take down bird feeders, and clean barbecue grills after each use. Manage fallen fruit from trees and compost piles to prevent attracting bears. Proactive measures help keep bears wild and reduce their habituation to human food.
If an encounter with a bear occurs, stay calm. Do not run, as bears are fast and excellent climbers. Instead, stand your ground, appear larger by raising your arms, and speak in a calm, firm voice. Slowly back away, giving the bear space.
If a black bear attacks, fighting back with any available object is recommended. Carrying bear spray and knowing its use can be an effective deterrent. Report aggressive bears or those in residential areas to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.