Does anyone know what nuisance bears means? This may sound lame but isn’t having any kind of bear down far enough to be sighted dangerous?

I appreciate the need to be warned of bears in campgrounds and other recreational areas. I also understand that warning signs have been posted throughout those areas. But absent of the threat of interaction with campers, etc., why is it newsworthy to report that there are bears in Utah's wilderness areas? It is after all their habitat; we should expect them to be there (i.e. Bear River, Bear Lake, etc.). I suppose next we can expect to be warned that there are deer, elk and moose in the mountains, fish in the streams, hawks and eagles in the air, etc.

These areas are IN THE MOUNTAINS. Bears live there. Yes, Utah does have a black bear population in the Uintah, and probably other mountain ranges.

Sightings are just a part of people going into the mountains. Many hikers and campers in some areas of Utah are going to see the bears.

The "nuisance bear" part comes when the bears start relying on people for food. Or start ravaging campsites because people have left their food and garbage out.

Similar to the tree huggers that feed the bears in the back yard because they are "cute". This takes the fear of the unknown out of the equation, and people get mauled, campsites get ravanged. The bears get aggressive, expecting food.

The path of least resistance, why should a bear go hunting for a deer, eat berries, and dig up a mouse; when he can just go to the local campsite and eat a whole cooler full of bacon and eggs, bread, and hotdogs?

I HAVE TO AGREE WITH DUH! WE LIVE IN THERE HABITAT. AND I ALSO AGREE IS THIS REALLY NEWS WORTHY? IF YOU GO IN TO THE MOUNTAINS DON'T YOU EXPECT TO SEE WILD ANIMALS? THESE BEARS WOULD NOT BE BOTHERING PEOPLE IF OTHERS WOULD NOT BE LEAVING FOOD AND GARBAGE OUT, DIDN'T THERE MOM TEACH THEM BETTER MY MOTHER ALWAYS TAUGHT ME TO CLEAN UP AFTER MYSELF.. TRY IT PEOPLE IT IS NOT THAT HARD.

Arrest the bears!

After that boy was killed at the mouth of American Fork Canyon they are trying to keep us alert. Plus it helps to alleviate the issue of people claiming that they were not aware of the bears in that area.

Bears are not dangerous animals, but like any animal if they are hungry or feel threaded they will attack. Just us your heads when you are heading into the wilderness and remember that just because they are cute does not mean they are not wild animals.

Dear Anonymous,

That boy wasn't killed in the mouth of American Fork Canyon. He was killed in a rough camp above off the Alpine Loop - hardly near the city. I know that doesn't have anything to do with the story, I just think people should have their facts straight before posting...

My husband has seen bears before in Whiterocks Canyon - in fact, he swears to this day that one was a grizzly. How is this news? There are bears in the mountains?

Hey, I'm about to head out camping over there, and I appreciate the heads up! A little reminder can do no harm.

They're letting us know so they do not get sued again if someone gets killed.

Not an issue to get so riled up about.

Thanks for the heads-up.