Bears in Arizona: What to do (and what not to do) if you see one

Bears are naturally inclined to look for berries and nuts in the wild, but once in a blue moon, you might find they prefer getting their food at Safeway. A black bear was spotted in June at the grocery store in Prescott Valley.

On even rarer occasions, bears can attack. And it can turn deadly. A man in Prescott was killed by a bear in June.

Bear encounters are happening more frequently in Arizona as development encroaches on their habitat, said Jamie Haas of the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center in Scottsdale.

"Add to it that bears have a great sense of smell and their No. 1 job is to feed themselves," she said. "They have great memories and will never forget how to find an easy meal."

That's why state and federal wildlife biologists urge people to prevent unintentionally feeding bears by securing potential sources of food, such as trash cans.

While it's rare for black bears to act aggressively toward humans, it's best to avoid bear encounters. Here's what to know about bears in Arizona and what to do if you cross paths with one.

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What kind of bears are in Arizona?

Black bears are the only species found in Arizona. Don't be fooled by the name, however. Black bears' fur can be a range of colors — black, brown, cinnamon or dark blond.

Black bears are one of the smallest bear species in the country, growing 3 to 3½ feet tall when on all four feet and 5 to 6 feet long and weighing 125 to 400 pounds, according to the Arizona Game & Fish Department.

Are there any grizzly bears in Arizona?

Not in the wild. The last grizzly bear in Arizona was shot and killed in the 1930s.

The species' historical range encompassed 11 states, including Arizona. Today, only four have wild populations: Idaho, Montana, Washington and Wyoming.

The bears were hunted, poisoned and trapped because they posed a threat to humans and livestock as more Europeans settled in the American West, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

If you want to see a grizzly bear in Arizona, you'll have to go to the Bearizona Wildlife Park in Williams. Bearizona is home to grizzlies Hannah, Sky and Crockett, whom the park acquired as orphaned cubs in June 2020. Their mother was euthanized after being shot by a hiker in a surprise encounter in Montana.

Where do bears live in Arizona?

Black bears in Arizona live in forest, woodland and chaparral (semi-arid areas dominated by shrubs) habitats, as well as desert riparian areas, according to the Arizona Game & Fish Department.

Bears can be found in the Flagstaff and Prescott areas, at the Grand Canyon, along the Mogollon Rim, in the White Mountains and in the mountains surrounding Tucson, among other places.

Bears typically roam areas of 7 to 15 square miles and are most active at dawn and dusk.

About 2,500 black bears live in the wild in Arizona, according to the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center.

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How many bear attacks are there in Arizona?

Bear attacks are rare in the state. Arizona Game & Fish has recorded 15 bear attacks statewide since 1990.

A fatal attack recently occurred in Prescott.

On June 16, a large adult black bear killed a 66-year-old man, an incident Game & Fish described as "apparently unprovoked." A neighbor shot and killed the bear.

That was only the second fatal attack recorded and the first since 2011.

Encounters with bears are much less rare. Arizona Game & Fish typically receives at least 100 calls each year regarding bear sightings, agency spokesman Mark Hart told The Arizona Republic in April.

At that time, Game & Fish reported the first recorded Arizona black bear sighting of 2023, a young bear weighing about 150 pounds who was found foraging for food in the Oracle area, near Tucson.

In Prescott Valley, residents reported seeing a bear walking around outside a Safeway supermarket on June 4. Prescott Valley police told residents the bear was relocated to an undeveloped area in Lynx Creek and to call the police if they see the bear again.

Black bear signs: What to look for

Signs of bear activity can include paw prints with claw marks, slightly round droppings, digging, overturned rocks and logs, and scattered garbage from dumpsters and/or trash cans, according to Game & Fish.

If you see a bear, you can tell if it feels threatened or stressed by the sounds it makes, which include woofing, hissing, popping teeth and grunting.

What time of year are bears most aggressive?

Bears are typically most active in the spring and summer months.

Many young bears spend this time looking for food to "bulk up" for their winter hibernation, said Haas, of the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center.

In the fall, bears must consume about 20,000 calories per day to pack on the pounds to get them through the winter, when food is scarcer, according to Game & Fish.

Bears hibernate in Arizona from November to March, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

How can you prevent bear attacks?

The U.S. Forest Service urges people to secure anything that could be a source of food for bears. Unsecured garbage or garbage cans, bird feeders, pet food and fruit trees can attract bears.

Hikers should be aware of their surroundings, hike in groups, keep children within sight and keep their dogs leashed, according to Bearwise.org.

Campers should keep a clean campsite. Don't burn food scraps or trash in a grill or fire ring. Cook downwind and as far from the campsite as possible, and be careful about storing food, trash, toiletries and even the clothes worn when preparing food. Bearwise suggests storing these items in bear-resistant containers, inside a locked vehicle or suspended at least 10 feet above the ground.

What should you do if you encounter a black bear?

Arizona Game & Fish suggests the following:

• Alter your route if you see a bear in the distance.

• If the bear approaches, make yourself as large and imposing as possible. Stand upright and wave your arms, jacket or other items. Make loud noises, such as yelling, whistling or banging pots and pans.

• Do not run and never play dead.

• Give the bear a chance to leave the area.

• If the bear does not leave, stay calm, continue facing it and slowly back away.

• If a bear is in your yard, scare it away from inside the house, keeping the door closed.

What should you do if a black bear attacks you?

Carry pepper spray and know how and when to use it.

Use everything in your power to fight back, whether with sticks, rocks or your fists, according to Arizona Game & Fish.

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Reach the reporter at Michael.Salerno@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @salerno_phx.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Bear season in Arizona: Where they live, how to avoid attacks