Wasatch-Cache National Forest

Golden Spike National Historic Site will celebrate the 32nd Annual Railroader’s Festival on Saturday, August 09, 2007. The visitor center will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with activities and games scheduled throughout the day.

Implementing further research was beyond the scope of the U.S. Forest Service's 2004 Final Environmental Impact Statement(FEIS)and 2005 Wasatch Powderbird Guides(WPG)Special Use Permit Renewal process for heli-skiing in the Tri-Canyon Area in the Wasatch Mountains, just east of Salt Lake City, Utah. However, in their Record of Decision the Wasatch-Cache(WCNF)and Uinta National Forests expressed full support for undertaking a comprehensive study to more intensively examine helicopter-golden eagle interactions. Click here to learn more about the study.

The black bear, Ursus americanus, is fairly common in Utah, where it can be found primarily in large forested areas. Contrary to its name, the black bear is not always black; the species varies in color from reddish to light brown to black.

Black bears are omnivores with diets consisting of fruits, insects, grubs, some small vertebrates, and carrion. They breed in June or July, and young are born in January or February; average litter size is two. Young stay with their mother until the fall of their second year. Black bears are nocturnal and are dormant during the winter.

The black bear is currently the only species of bear that occurs naturally in Utah. The grizzly bear, Ursus arctos , was exterminated in Utah during the 1920's.

Black bears usually retreat before people are aware of them.  Their hearing is more sensitive than a human's, and their broad, soft foot pads allow them to move quietly downwind where they can best identify their dangers.  The may stand upright to see farther.  If need be, they can run faster than 25 mph or climb trees as fast a squirrels.  They generally prefer to forage for wild foods away from people but are almost as quick as chipmunks to seek food in campsites and garbage cans when wild nut and berry crops fails.  They rarely attack people.  Campground bears and roadside panhandlers may nip or cuff people that crowd around them, try to pet them, or tease them with food.  But the injuries, if any, are usually slight, only occasionally requiring stitches.

For much more information about Black Bears, read a copy of the Forest Service publication Watchable Wildlife: The Black Bear

Bear Safety Tips - Utah Division of Wildlife Resources