A campsite in Wyoming has been closed after a black bear pushed a sleeping camper out of his hammock, tore his sleeping bag apart, then ransacked a tent in search of food.
As Buckrail reports, the man was camping at Teton Canyon on the night of June 10, when the attack took place. He was able to escape and hide in his car while the bear destroyed both his hammock and sleeping bag.
The bear then made its way to a nearby tent where other campers were spending the night, before eventually being scared off. Nobody was injured in the attack, but despite the Wyoming Game and Fish Department setting traps to capture the animal, it has yet to be found.
“After the bear did not return to the site for three consecutive nights, Game and Fish pulled its trap from Teton Canyon on June 14,” said the Caribou-Targhee National Forest Service in a statement. “Biologists from the agency continue to monitor the area daily.”
The service shared video footage of the bear pillaging the tent on its Twitter account, shown below, and announced that the area would be closed to all camping except hard-sided vehicles until further notice.
The #CTNF has issued a #temporary #closure to all camping except hard-sided vehicles up #TetonCanyon due to an aggressive #blackbear. Go to our website to learn more. pic.twitter.com/S6RkzdPZFHJune 14, 2022
Stay safe
Bear sightings are on the rise in many US states, and the animals are becoming more bold in their hunt for food. Consuming human food not only makes bears more prone to searching for it in future, it can also cause them to grow much larger than would be typical for the time of year.
Last week, a family was attacked by a 350lb bear that entered their tent in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Two members of the group received minor injuries before the animal was scared away.
To find out how to keep yourself safe while camping, see our guide on what to do if you meet a bear and always follow up-to-date guidance from local officials.
