DWR revises bear plan

Wildlife officers will soon receive a crash course in sensitivity training mandated in light of the controversial killing of a bear cub last fall that provoked public outrage.

The Utah Wildlife Board on Wednesday approved changes in a policy on how to handle black bear problems, including how to "dispose" of problem bears.

"The mishandling of the nuisance bear (cub) incident in 2002 prompted the review," said Craig McLaughlin, mammals program coordinator for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.

In October, wildlife officer Garrett Whatcott shot a bear cub in the Lost Springs campground near Flaming Gorge and let it die a slow, painful death. Elk hunters who witnessed the killing called the officer's actions inhumane, callous and unnecessary. They called for his firing.

After an investigation, wildlife officials said the shooting was necessary, because the cub had been rummaging through campsites and eating human food, and it was assumed to be a potential threat to people.

Whatcott was not fired. But he was admonished for not showing an appropriate level of sensitivity to the bear, or to the people in the campground.

"It was a result of inexperience," McLaughlin said.

The policy changes, which have already been reviewed and approved by the Regional Advisory Councils, primarily encourage wildlife officers to use their best judgment on when to kill a bear. Bears that kill livestock and pets are certain to receive the death penalty.

The new policy specifies the bears would be killed "while considering public sentiment, and only after onlookers are fully apprised of the reasons for the actions," the new policy states.

The policy clearly states, "Division personnel should treat all bears humanely. Every effort should be made to reduce stress and pain to animals held at bay or captured during response to bear/human conflicts."

Normally bears live in remote wild places and are rarely seen by humans. Because of the drought, Utah has had an unusually high number of problem bear incidents where the bears wander into more populated areas in search of food.

In 2002, 70 problem bears — only two of them yearlings — had to be shot, mostly for killing livestock. Wildlife officials took three cubs to a rehabilitation center in Idaho.

The policy also clarifies what defines a problem bear that must be tranquilized and returned to the wilds versus one that must be executed.

Black bears found wandering into populated areas and rummaging through Dumpsters, eating pet food and climbing trees are generally considered first-time offenders and removed from the area without being killed.

A bear that repeatedly returns and exhibits other unacceptable behavior could be targeted by hunters with bear permits, or could be captured and "rehabilitated."

Bears considered chronic offenders that have damaged property and threatened public safety are killed.

Wildlife board members say they don't foresee any problems with the revised policy.

"It is a very good policy," said Chairman Max Morgan.

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