As Arizonans from across the state are looking forward to their travel plans this holiday weekend, state officials say that fire safety isn’t the only thing they should have in mind.
Arizona Game and Fish spokesperson Michael Colaianni said it’s important not to leave out one key step when camping: storing all food and trash out of any local bears’ reach.
“While bears are typically shy and will try to avoid contact with humans, they do have a fantastic sense of smell,” said Colaianni. “And that can be problematic for the bear and for us.”
Colaianni said never to run away if you encounter a bear. Instead, he suggested making yourself look bigger, making noise and backing away slowly.
More Arizona animal news
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Maricopa County announced it’s looking to create a new nonprofit dedicated to supporting shelter pets. The funding received would support services like spay and neutering and vaccinations. -
Sunshine, the zoo’s 12-year-old Masai giraffe, gave birth to the calf on Nov. 16. This is Sunshine’s fifth baby and the fourth giraffe now at Phoenix Zoo. -
The Tonto National Forest has temporarily closed the lower Salt River area to most horses and pack animals after an equine virus was detected. The closure could last through March. -
The Mexican gray wolf has roamed parts of the Southwest for thousands of years. -
Researchers at University of Arizona have confirmed a new jaguar in southern Arizona. This is the fifth big cat over the last 15 years to be spotted in the area.
