PHOENIX — Arizona Game and Fish Department officers last night trapped and euthanized a black bear that had scratched and injured a camper earlier in the day in a dispersed camping area (not a developed campground) near Cherry Creek in Young, Ariz.

The subadult (1-1/2 to 2-1/2 year-old) male bear was caught in a culvert trap set by a highly trained team of wildlife officers. They confirmed this was the bear involved in the incident based on descriptions from other campers and because it had a unique hind paw pad that matched tracks found at the scene. The bear was euthanized per department policy because it attacked a human and was deemed a threat to public safety.

Officers noted there were unsecured food sources and garbage in the area, and a field necropsy revealed garbage in the bear’s stomach contents. Arizona Game and Fish reminds everyone that leaving food and trash around may be luring an animal to its death.

“We need the public’s help to keep wildlife wild,” said Dustin Darveau, a wildlife specialist in the Game and Fish Mesa region. “The root cause of most human-bear conflicts is food, and when a bear starts associating people with food, the chance for conflict and risk to public safety rises. Though the cause of the problem is usually people, often it’s the bear that must face the consequences.”

Game and Fish is continuing trapping operations today because campers told officers that multiple bears had raided food sources in the camp area over the Memorial Day weekend and did not fully retreat when bear spray was used. The campers did not notify officials of this bear activity, vacate the area, or remove the food sources after the sightings. The area is now closed during the trapping operation and until further notice.

The camper injured in the incident was treated at a local hospital and released.

The department asks that any nuisance bear activity be reported to Game and Fish or local officials and recommends that all campers take a few simple precautions to protect both people and bears, including securing all potential food sources. Campsite food sources can include uncleaned BBQs, used plates, discarded wrappers, food stores and pet food. Bears have a very keen sense of smell – approximately seven times better than a bloodhound and 100 times better than a human.

Take these immediate steps to minimize bear encounters and keep wildlife wild:

• Keep a clean camp. Store food items and trash well away from your tent or sleeping area. Even an empty food wrapper can attract a bear from a long distance.
• Wash up before going to bed to eliminate odors.
• Put food waste and garbage in a secure location such as a bear-proof dumpster.
• Carry bear spray.
• Encourage others to take these precautions. Discouraging bears from a campground requires everyone do their part.

If you encounter a bear, try to scare the bear away by making yourself look as large as possible, making loud noises, and throwing objects at it. Do not run. In the rare event of a black bear attack, fight back aggressively and use bear spray.

Arizona has had one fatal bear attack, which occurred in Pinetop in 2011. However, there are numerous reports each year of bears in close proximity to humans that could lead to serious injury or even death.