Bear treatment training and giveaways offered to Idaho residents in the Wood River Valley

HAILEY, Idaho — Fish and game wildlife biologists will lead three community training courses in July and August in the Wood River Valley.

Every year, reports of human-wildlife conflicts arrive at Fish and Game offices involving food-conditioned bears or mountain lions. These conflicts can create public safety concerns in Idaho communities and surrounding wildlands. Promote the safety of people, animals and wildlife; Idaho Fish and Game, the Magic Valley Region and the Idaho Fish and Wildlife Foundation are joining together to provide personal safety information and training on bear spray that people can use to keep wildlife safe .

Three community training classes led by Fish and Game wildlife biologists are scheduled for July 11 at the Sawtooth National Recreation Area headquarters, July 25 at the Warm Springs Preserve and Aug. 8 at the County Community Campus. Blaine from the College of Southern Idaho. Each training course will focus on black bear and mountain lion biology and behavior, with hands-on training using inert bear spray. ,

Each free event will start at 6:00 p.m. and last approximately 1.5 hours; pre-registration is required by calling the Magic Valley regional office. Event staff will distribute up to 40 bear sprays at each event.

The presentations are suitable for all ages and everyone is welcome to attend. Each community training course will allow up to 40 Idaho residents over the age of 18 to pre-register a free bear spray upon completion of training.

The Idaho Fish and Wildlife Foundation generously provides the bear spray. Additionally, participants enrolled in each training class can win a bear-resistant Cordova cooler.

To pre-register and for more information, contact the Magic Valley Regional Office at (208) 324-4359.