Living in large carnivore country

With reports of bears venturing out of their winter dens, we’re reminded that it’s a good time to think about how to avoid conflicts with large carnivores.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is encouraging people to attend a free public workshop titled “Living in Large Carnivore Country.” The workshop will be held at 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 2, at the Saratoga Town Hall, 110 E. Spring Ave. in Saratoga.

Anyone who spends time in bear and lion country is encouraged to attend. “We’ve found that there are a lot of people who may not be sure how they should react if confronted by a bear or mountain lion,” says Robin Kepple, Public Information Specialist with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. “These workshops provide people with good, practical information on how to prevent conflicts and what to do in an encounter with one of these large carnivores.” The workshop is designed to focus on how to avoid conflicts with large carnivores while recreating.

There will be presentations by wildlife professionals with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department on topics such as: bear and mountain lion food habits, where one would expect to encounter a bear or mountain lion, food storage regulations, understanding bear and lion behavior, what to do in an encounter and the proper use of bear spray. The workshops will also touch on the topic of wolves. “Wolves rarely attack people and we don’t expect that to change,” says Kepple. “But more people are encountering wolves and people have questions about their safety around wolves, so we will devote some time to the topic.” For more information people may contact Kepple at 307-777-4523 or at [email protected].