Grizzly 399 and her four cubs emerged from the den Saturday, promenading along Pilgrim Creek, making their way across the highway to Willow Flats, and forded the Snake River before continuing south as they showed themselves to the public for the first time this spring.

Grizzly bears with cubs have begun emerging from their dens in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. As bears become active, officials from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department remind residents and visitors to secure attractants of any kind and be bear aware.

“Seeing a bear in its natural habitat is an awe-inspiring experience. However, living and recreating in bear country requires awareness and actions on our part to keep both bears and humans safe,” the department said in a press release Monday. 

As the grizzly bear population expands within the ecosystem, they continue to disperse across their historical range, including into residential areas. For example, all of Teton County is now in occupied grizzly bear habitat. Properly storing all attractants to ensure a bear does not obtain a food reward is crucial to keeping bears wild, the department said. 

Once a bear becomes conditioned to human foods, risks to the bear and humans increase and management options become limited. Whether you have lived in bear territory for decades or are visiting the area for a day, please do your part to help protect bears. The department offered the following tips.

If you are a resident:

Store all garbage within bear-resistant containers.

Secure livestock feed, pet food, compost, and beehives.

Hang bird feeders in a way that makes them inaccessible to bears.

Help your neighbors create a bear-wise community to protect wildlife.

If you are visiting the national park or national forest:

Keep a clean camp. Store all attractants, including coolers, cooking gear, and pet food, inside a bear box or a hard-sided vehicle with the windows rolled up. Properly store garbage until you can deposit it into a bear-resistant dumpster.

Never abandon your picnic table or backpack. Make sure someone stays with your food at all times.

If you see a bear, always stay at least 100 yards away. If you choose to watch or photograph the bear, use a spotting scope or telephoto lens. Park in designated areas and never block travel lanes. Follow the directions of staff managing bear jams.

Please respect all wildlife closure areas.

If you are exploring the backcountry:

Be alert and aware of your surroundings.

Make noise, especially in areas with limited visibility or when sound is muffled.

Carry bear spray, know how to use it, and keep it readily accessible.

Hike in groups of three or more people.

Do not run. Back away slowly if you encounter a bear.

Please immediately report any conflict activities to the Cody Regional Office at (307) 527-7125.

– Mark Davis