PROVO, UT — Wildlife crews and police searched a Provo neighborhood Wednesday after reports of a young bear wandering near Splash Summit Waterpark. Officers responded to a backyard just north of the waterpark after residents reported seeing the animal in the area.
Police spokeswoman Janna-Lee Holland said the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources also joined the search. Neighbors were notified by the city, and one resident said animal control officers told her to bring her children inside while crews looked for the bear.
Police and wildlife crews search for the bear for hours
Officers spent a couple of hours trying to locate the bear, but they were not able to find it. Police believed the animal may have gone back up the mountain after moving through the neighborhood.
The search centered on the area near the waterpark, where the bear had been seen in a backyard. Authorities did not report any injuries or damage linked to the sighting, but they treated the call as a public safety concern because of how close the animal came to homes and families.
Third bear sighting in Utah in three weeks raises concern
The Provo sighting was the third bear encounter reported in Utah over the past three weeks. On Aug. 4, a mother bear and two cubs were spotted high in a tree in Mapleton, about 10 miles from Provo, after a resident noticed them while checking sprinklers.
Another bear was seen inside Ephraim city limits on July 28. Wildlife officials safely tranquilized and relocated that animal. The back-to-back sightings have put a spotlight on how often bears are moving into neighborhoods during the late summer months.
Drought is reducing natural food sources for black bears
Wildlife officials say drought conditions across Utah are leaving bears with fewer natural food sources. They said about 90 percent of a black bear’s diet is made up of plants and other vegetation, and those foods have become less available because of the dry conditions.
As those natural sources disappear, biologists warn that bears may be more likely to look for food near people. That can mean garbage, food left out at campgrounds or other attractants in populated areas. The shift increases the chances of close encounters like the one reported in Provo.
Officials say residents should treat bear sightings seriously
Authorities did not say the bear showed aggressive behavior, but they still urged caution while searching the neighborhood. Residents near the waterpark were advised to stay alert and keep children inside until crews finished checking the area.
Wildlife officials generally recommend avoiding any attempt to approach, feed or corner a bear. Instead, people should give the animal space and call police or wildlife authorities if they spot one near homes, schools or parks. In this case, the bear was not found before officers ended the search.
Utah wildlife crews continue to monitor bear movement
The Provo incident fits a broader pattern of bear activity across Utah this summer. In the Ephraim case, wildlife crews were able to tranquilize and relocate the bear safely, showing that a response can vary depending on where the animal is found and whether it can be located quickly.
For communities near mountain areas, wildlife officials say the combination of dry conditions and easier access to neighborhoods can lead to more sightings. Residents near Provo’s foothills may continue to see bears move through the area as wildlife searches for food and cooler cover.
