Wyoming Bear Encounters Have Increased Statewide

Residents should secure attractants and lock doors as bear activity remains elevated near homes.

Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Wildlife

Screen-print poster illustration of a bear silhouette near a fence and forest, evoking increased wildlife activity in residential areas. — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department reports an increase in bear-human encounters, urging residents to secure food attractants to prevent property access. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you take extra steps to secure food to prevent bear encounters in your area?

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has reported a rise in bear-human encounters across the state, with animals increasingly approaching residences. These bears are frequently seeking food from unsecured garbage cans, bird feeders, and backyard livestock pens.

Why it matters

Bears are drawn to residential areas due to easily accessible food supplies, which can lead to property damage and dangerous proximity to households. This behavioral pattern increases the risk of animals attempting to enter homes, campers, and trailers.

Wyoming Game and Fish reports that bears are actively targeting unsecured food attractants and attempting to enter structures through unlocked doors and windows. These encounters involve various residential settings, including homes, campers, and trailers.

The players

Wyoming Game and Fish Department

The state agency responsible for the conservation of wildlife and the management of bear-human conflicts in Wyoming.

The details

Bears access residential properties primarily by identifying unsecured food sources like household garbage, bird feeders, and domestic livestock such as chickens, ducks, goats, and backyard bees. Once these attractants draw bears into the immediate vicinity of a property, the animals may attempt to gain entry into homes or vehicles. Residents can inadvertently facilitate this by leaving doors or windows unlocked, providing easy access to interior spaces.

September 2026: Bear encounter problem persists throughout the state.
October 2026: Bear activity near residences is expected to continue.

The Home Front

This trend of increased bear activity near residences follows established patterns managed under the Wyoming Game and Fish Department's wildlife-human conflict protocols. Such incidents frequently spike when bears are seeking high-calorie food sources before winter dormancy.

Check that all exterior doors and windows on your home, campers, and trailers are kept locked. Ensure that garbage containers are bear-resistant and remove bird feeders or livestock feed that might attract animals to your yard.

The takeaway

Wildlife encounters are most common when bears identify consistent, easy food sources around residential properties. Maintain a tidy perimeter by securing all trash receptacles and keeping livestock feed in enclosed, inaccessible storage units.