A wave of black bear sightings in Star Valley Ranch during late August and early September has prompted town officials to revisit how the community handles garbage, fruit trees and other wildlife attractants.

Mayor Ru Rok said the town began receiving increased reports of bears around the middle of August, particularly near trails bordering the community.

“We started getting a lot of reports of black bear sightings, quite frankly, around the middle of August, on the trail system that’s right next to town,” Major Rok said.

Reports intensified as summer turned toward fall. By the final week of August and first week of September, residents were reporting several black bears within town limits.

“By the last week of August and into the first week of September, we received a great many reports of black bears in town,” Major Rok noted.

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The activity involved at least one mother bear with cubs and a young bear, or yearling. Major Rok said the yearling climbed into an apple tree on a residential property, where the town’s special municipal officer photographed it.

“He got into some apple trees that were on a resident’s property,” Major Rok said. “Our special municipal officer actually was wondering why all the apples were on the ground, and then suddenly a bear climbs out of the tree.”

Wyoming Game and Fish trapped and relocated the yearling, according to Rok.

A separate incident involving a mother bear and three cubs ended more seriously. Rok said the sow accessed garbage and tried to enter two homes—one inside Star Valley Ranch’s municipal boundary and another in an unincorporated county area adjacent to town.

“Unfortunately, it was a mother bear with three cubs,” the major said. “She got into garbage. She also tried to get into two houses.”

Game and Fish euthanized the adult bear because of its behavior, Rok said. Her cubs also were euthanized because they were too young to survive independently.

“It was just really, really devastating,” the mayor lamented.

Rok said poor natural forage may be drawing bears into residential areas. A late freeze in May damaged berry crops, reducing a key food source as bears prepare for winter.

Town officials began sending bear-awareness notices in mid-August and installed a large banner at the mail center with advice on reducing food attractants. The recent encounters, however, have caused the Town Council to reconsider whether education alone is sufficient.

“We’re going to take another look at that after this latest incident,” Rok explained.

The council expects to continue its discussions later this month and in October. One option is requiring bear-resistant garbage containers in high-conflict areas. Town officials will also emphasize enforcement of existing rules against feeding wildlife and leaving garbage available overnight.

Rok said any long-term response will require cooperation from Lincoln County because some homes in the Star Valley Ranch area lie outside town jurisdiction. Since 2011, Wyoming Game and Fish has recorded 33 bear conflicts in Star Valley Ranch, according to Major Rok.