Missouri Department of Conservation Urges Campers to Be Bear Aware as Fall Activity Ramps Up

(Missourinet) – As fall settles in, Missouri’s black bears are busy bulking up for winter. Their search for food can bring them closer to people and pets, which is why Josh Wisdom with the Missouri Department of Conservation is sharing tips to stay safe during bear season, especially after a Missouri man was killed by a black bear in Arkansas

“The idea is if you don’t have anything for a bear to get into like outdoor pet food, trash bags, trash cans…and bird feed is another real big one. So, if you don’t have those attractants around your house, or if you do have them, you have them excluded, like with electric fencing.”

He says bears follow their nose.

“Their nose is better than any bloodhounds. It’s better than any person. Obviously, anything that smells good, you know, bacon grease. But it may be something as simple as, like Wintergreen chewing tobacco or toothpaste. Anything with a strong smell, especially sweet smells that can attract bears to a campsite.”

To stay safe, campers are urged to store scented items like toothpaste or sweet-smelling snacks in their vehicle—not in their tent.

“The big thing I would recommend is if you are in a rural setting or even in your backyard. If you see a bear, let that bear know that you’re there. That could be anything from yelling or raising your hands up high or even hitting the panic button on your car or honking a horn. Kind of a phrase I like to use is if you care, scare the bear.”

Wisdom estimates there are over one thousand black bears in Missouri which are found mostly in the southern part of the state.