American black bear

Black bears are the only bear species in Utah, and they aren't always black: coats run from white through every shade of brown. Most of Utah's bears live between 7,000 and 10,000 feet, in rugged and forested country, though some live lower and they travel far for food.

Bears eat almost anything. Most of the diet is grasses, nuts, flowers, shrubs, berries and other fruit; meat is less than a tenth, mostly carcasses and insects such as ants. In much of Utah, females begin denning in late October and males in mid-November, and both come out in April or May.

Most conflicts start with human food. A bear that gets food from a home or campsite even once may become aggressive and usually has to be killed. Keep food, trash and scented items out of tents and locked away, clean grills and tables, and put trash out on pickup morning. If you meet a black bear, don't run or climb a tree: stand your ground, make yourself look big and give it a way to leave. Carry bear spray and know how to use it.