Recreating in Black Bear Habitat
Protecting Black Bears on the Wild & Scenic Rogue River
Black Bear on the Wild & Scenic Rogue River. Photo courtesy of Momentum River Expeditions.
The Wild & Scenic Rogue River is famously known for its multi-day, wilderness rafting and fishing trips. And the season is here! Yet this well known river canyon is more than just a “river trip.” It’s home to endemic tree and plant species, wilderness trails, traditional cultures, history, and a multitude of birds and wildlife. Eagles, otters, salmon, and that charismatic megafauna, the American black bear (Ursus americanus), all call this place home.
If you're recreating out along the Wild & Scenic Rogue River, you may be lucky enough to see black bears wandering along the banks of the river or lumbering up the hillside. The Wild & Scenic Rogue River canyon provides important habitat for these omnivorous creatures as it hosts plenty of remote, dense forests and thick understory. Black bears hibernate during the winter months and forage for food during the summer.
Recreating in a Bear’s Habitat
The Wild & Scenic Rogue River is a favorite summer river trip destination. People from all over the world come to float it’s Class III rapids, fish for salmon and steelhead or hike the 41 mile Rogue River Trail. While this canyon is a hotspot for recreation and adventure, we must remember that we are visitors and, as stewards, we must help protect the abundant wildlife that live within the Wild Rogue canyon.
Because of the Rogue’s popularity, some bears have become habituated to the presence of humans in the canyon. Bears have been known to visit camps and get into rafts, coolers, and garbage in search of food. These bears often get tagged as “problem bears” and are often euthanized when their behavior becomes a nuisance. Any bear that associates food with humans will pass that knowledge to its cubs, creating a multi-generational cycle that is difficult to interrupt. As the saying goes, “A fed bear is a dead bear.”
If you are planning on a trip down the Wild & Scenic Rogue River this summer, or anywhere that is natural black bear habitat, make sure you are following best practices to protect the bears and their habitat.
Look for these informational signs at boat ramps, campgrounds and trailheads.
A curious bear on the Wild & Scenic Rogue River.
Problem People, Not Problem Bears
Humans pose the greatest threat to black bears. People who haven’t spent much time in the wilderness, don’t have the appropriate equipment, or who are uninformed can’t adequately protect wildlife or themselves while they’re out recreating. With the proper information, we can all do our part to enjoy our Wild and Scenic or Wilderness adventures responsibly while protecting the wildlife who call these places home.
Here are a few ways YOU as a river runner or hiker can protect black bears and other wildlife while recreating along the Wild & Scenic Rogue River:
Read through information on wildlife safety on the BLM and Forest Service’s Wild Rogue River websites.
Educate everyone in your group about bear deterrent protocols.
Keep a clean camp! Pick up all debris and trash anytime you stop, store your garbage in a locking box or bear proof food storage container, clean surfaces after use.
Store food in bear proof containers (locking coolers for rafters, bear canisters for hikers) and use bear fences or boxes when available.
Remove all coolers, dryboxes, and other food storage containers from your rafts and stack them together on shore to protect your equipment.
Eliminate odors. Store all toiletries and anything that smells in bear proof storage containers at night.
Deter bears from entering camp or associating camps with food. Scare any curious bears away.
Education, awareness, and best practices to protect black bears along the Wild & Scenic Rogue River corridor will help preserve this unique landscape and its wildlife now and for future generations.
For more information about black bears along the Wild & Scenic Rogue River, go to the Bureau of Land Management website.
