Campgrounds at Glacier will remain closed

The Daily Inter Lake

Glacier National Park officials report that Morning Star and Oldman campgrounds will be kept closed through at least mid-August because of bear management activities. Hiking trails in the area, however, will remain open. These decisions may be re-evaluated based upon the outcome of the management actions, or because of range or behavior changes in the targeted bear.

Park bear management rangers are continuing with the monitoring and aversive conditioning, begun last summer, of a female grizzly that has frequented these campgrounds. Officials stress that though she appears comfortable near humans, the grizzly never has displayed aggressive behavior. The grizzly will receive aversive conditioning Aug. 5-16 from park rangers and staff at the Wind River Bear Institute. The two-week treatment program is being funded by a grant from The Glacier Fund.

Aversive conditioning is the application of negative reinforcement to modify behavior. Rangers and institute staff will use noise, Karelian bear dogs and other nonlethal stimuli to encourage the grizzly to keep away from humans and the campgrounds.

Officials hope that through this effort, the bear can remain in the ecosystem. Extensive conditioning such as this has not been attempted previously in Glacier's backcountry. The decision to continue this season is because the trails in that area were not reopened until late September, and as a result, last year's effort proved inconclusive.

Although park officials encourage visitors who see bears to report the sightings, officials especially are interested in having sightings reported from this area. Such reports will provide valuable insight into this bear's behavior. Sightings can be reported at visitor centers, ranger stations and park headquarters.

These management actions are being carried out in accordance with Glacier's Bear Management Plan and Bear Management Guidelines. Superintendent Mick Holm authorized the use of dogs in Glacier's backcountry.

For more information about Glacier National Park, call 406-888-7800 or visit the park's Web site at www.nps.gov/glac.