Utah is home to a thriving population of black bears, the state’s only bear species. While grizzly bears once roamed Utah, they are no longer present, with the last known grizzly killed in 1923. Understanding black bear presence and behavior is important for exploring Utah’s natural environments.
Black Bear Presence and Habitat
Black bears are primarily found in Utah’s forested mountainous regions, including the Uinta Mountains, Wasatch Range, and parts of southern Utah. They typically inhabit elevations between 7,000 and 10,000 feet. Preferred habitats include dense cover such as Gambel oak, conifer forests, moist creek bottoms, aspen groves, and mountain brush.
While black bears generally prefer higher elevations and remote areas, they can travel considerable distances for food. This may lead them into lower elevations or the fringes of urban areas, especially when natural food sources are scarce. They avoid large, open spaces, favoring locations with ample cover and suitable den sites, often under large rocks or tree roots on north and east-facing slopes.
Understanding Bear Activity
Black bears are omnivores, meaning they consume both plant and animal matter, which influences their movements throughout the year. Roughly 70 to 80% of their diet consists of vegetation like roots, tubers, berries, grasses, and acorns. The remaining portion, up to 20%, may include amphibians, small mammals, fish, insects (notably carpenter ants and their larvae), and carrion.
Their activity patterns are highly seasonal, dictated by food availability and winter preparation. Bears emerge from dens in March or April, hungry and focused on early spring vegetation and insects. As summer progresses, their diet shifts to berries and other fruits. In the fall, a period known as hyperphagia, bears consume high-calorie foods like nuts to build fat reserves essential for winter. They enter torpor in November, remaining in dens until April or May, though brief emergences occur. Black bears are often most active during dawn and dusk, but can forage at any time.
Coexisting Safely with Bears
Living or recreating near bear country requires responsible practices to minimize encounters and ensure safety. A clean environment is a bear-free environment, as bears are highly attracted to human food and odors. Store all food, snacks, and scented items like deodorant and toothpaste in bear-proof containers, locked vehicles, or suspended from tree limbs, never inside tents.
All food scraps and trash should be properly disposed of in bear-proof dumpsters or packed out, and cooking areas thoroughly cleaned after each use. For homes in bear country, prevent bears from being drawn into residential areas by:
Securing outdoor garbage in bear-resistant containers.
Removing bird feeders.
Picking up fallen fruit.
Properly cleaning barbecue grills.
When hiking, help alert bears to your presence, allowing them to avoid you, by:
Making noise.
Traveling in groups.
Keeping children in the center of the group.
Avoid approaching or feeding bears, as this can habituate them to human presence and lead to conflicts.
If a bear encounter occurs, remain calm and assess the bear’s behavior. Do not run or climb a tree; black bears are fast runners (up to 35 mph) and skilled climbers. Instead, stand your ground, appear as large as possible by raising your arms, and speak firmly. A bear standing on its hind legs or grunting is typically a sign of curiosity, not aggression. If the bear approaches, bear spray can be an effective deterrent, with studies showing a high success rate. If a black bear attacks, fight back aggressively using any available objects. Report any aggressive bear behavior or urban sightings to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.