• Urges caution ‘when recreating around Alpine and across the state.’
Western Wyoming’s backcountry is a natural setting for bears, resulting in a presentation from Mark Aughton with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
Aughton is the Large Carnivore Biologist for the WG&F and offers a program to help people learn the necessary precautions.
“We just want people to understand some of the precautions they should take when they are recreating in and around Alpine and all across the state,” he explained in an interview with SVI Media. “We do live in bear country so it’s doubly important that we take these things seriously.”
Aughton’s presentation at the Alpine-Donn Wooden Civic Center offered information on how first to avoid any bear encounters.
“Obviously we have the most chances of having a potential encounter and we want to make sure everyone knows what to do should they happen,” he said.
“We are focusing on ways people can avoid encounters. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. But also what hours to avoid.”
He presentation included information on the peak hours for the carnivores and predatory animals. “And, that’s around the home, in the back country, and just through a variety of activities. We want to make sure everyone is prepared,” he noted.
Aughton invited the public to see the WG&F website specific to bears:.
“Everything related to my programs is under the bear-wise Wyoming tab,” he said. “That’s are whole program, making sure everyone knows how to respond and how to avoid encounters in the first place.”
