Hard-sided Camping Allowed at Rising Sun Campground

The Rising Sun Campground, located on the east side of the park, will be available to hard-sided camping only as of 9 a.m. tomorrow morning, Saturday, August 10th.

Recent bear incidents at the campground prompted a closure of the facility on Tuesday, August 6. A small sub-adult black bear has been involved with some incidents in the campground and area within the last month.

This past weekend a bear, believed to be a small sub-adult black bear, approached and laid on a corner of a tent that was occupied by sleeping campers. The campers awoke and started yelling, and observed a black bear running from the tent. There have been two other incidents in the campground and surrounding area, all believed to be with the same bear. One incident involved the bear snatching a pillow from a sleeping camper, and the other incident involved the bear going through some clothing that was located along the lakeshore. The incidents included no injuries. It appears that the bear is not looking for a food reward, or that it has received one, but it is learning to approach and handle human materials.

Park rangers and wildlife managers initiated some aversive conditioning, or negative reinforcement, to attempt to modify the bear’s behavior. This conditioning will be on-going in the area of the campground. It is unknown when hard-sided camping limitation will be lifted in the campground.

Glacier National Park is home to black and grizzly bears. Campers are reminded to keep campground and developed areas clean and free of food and trash. Regulations require that all edibles, food containers, and cookware be stored in a hard-sided vehicle or food locker when not in use, day or night. Place all trash in bear-proof containers. Do not burn waste in fire rings or leave litter around your camp. Fire rings should be free of trash before vacating a campsite. All bear sightings should be reported to a park ranger.

For updated information about access, please visit the park’s campground status page, or contact the park at 406-888-7800.


Jeff
Hiking in Glacier.com

Rising Sun Campground Closed Temporarily

Recent bear incidents at the Rising Sun Campground, located on the east of the park, have prompted the temporary closure of the campground. Early Monday morning the upper loop of the campground was closed, and the lower loop was only open to hard-sided camping. As of Tuesday, August 6th, the entire campground will be closed to all camping. All campers are being provided an opportunity to relocate to another campground within the park.

Early Sunday morning a bear, believed to be a small sub-adult black bear, approached and laid on a corner of a tent that was occupied by sleeping campers. The campers awoke and started yelling, and observed a black bear running from the tent. There have been two other incidents in the campground and surrounding area within the past month, all believed to be with the same bear. One incident involved the bear snatching a pillow from a sleeping camper, and the other incident involved the bear going through some clothing that was located along the lakeshore. The incidents included no injuries.

It appears that the bear is not looking for a food reward, or that it has received one, but it is learning to approach and handle human materials. Park rangers and wildlife managers will conduct aversive conditioning, or negative reinforcement, to attempt to modify the bear’s behavior. This will include trapping the bear, tagging the bear, and conducting hazing techniques using bean bags, rubber bullets, and/or noise stimulus. It is anticipated that these conditioning actions may take a few days.

A grizzly bear has recently been sighted in the area as well. Since a trap will be used, and it may trap the grizzly bear, the entire campground will be temporarily closed for visitor and bear safety.

The nightly Rising Sun Campground Programs will be moved to the St. Mary Campground during this temporary closure. Visitors for the program that are not camping at the St. Mary Campground are encouraged to park at the St. Mary Visitor Center and walk a short distance across the footbridge for the program.

The Rising Sun Campground has 83 sites and is a first-come first-serve facility. It is unknown the duration of the campground closure. For updated information about access, please visit the park’s campground status page, or contact the park at 406-888-7800.


Jeff
Hiking in Glacier.com