Campground south of Prescott closed due to increased bear activity

PRESCOTT, AZ (AZFamily) — A campground near the site of a deadly 2023 bear attack was closed Friday due to increased bear activity, according to the Prescott National Forest.

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Forest officials temporarily closed Lower Wolf Creek Campground in the Groom Creek area south of Prescott on Friday. It’s the first bear-related campground closure reported in the state this year.

It comes nearly three years after a deadly bear attack in the area. On June 16, 2023, 66-year-old Steven Jackson was having coffee near Groom Creek when a black bear attacked him and dragged him about 75 feet down an embankment, the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office said.

Neighbors tried to scare the bear off by shouting and honking car horns, but deputies said it didn’t stop until a neighbor shot the animal. Deputies later found both Jackson and the bear dead.

Arizona Game and Fish says 16 bear attacks have been reported in Arizona since 1990, two of which were deadly.

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Anyone planning to camp or hike in the Wolf Creek or Groom Creek areas is asked to stay alert and to steer clear of the wild animals.

When camping

• Always be aware of your surroundings.
• Keep food and attractants secured and inaccessible to bears. Do not keep food in a tent.
• Don’t burn leftover food or trash on the grill.
• Set up a campsite away from places where bears might forage for food, such as creeks, rivers and other bodies of water.

When hiking

• Don’t wear scented lotions, deodorant or perfumes.
• Make noise or hike in groups.
• Hiking with a pet? Keep it on a leash at all times.

In case of a bear encounter

• If you see a bear before it notices you, don’t approach. Quietly move away and alter your route.
• If it sees you, back away slowly and never run. Give it space to leave.
• If it comes closer, stand your ground, look bigger, and make loud noise. If it keeps approaching, use bear spray.
• If a bear won’t leave your yard, stay inside and call AZGFD: 623-236-7201.

What do we know about bears in northern Arizona?

According to Arizona Game and Fish, it’s common to see bears roaming if you live in black bear country. Here is a list of and behaviors of those that typically reside in our state. It is also against the law to shoot bears unless they present an immediate threat to you or others.

• Weighs 125-400 pounds, with males being larger than females
• Stand about 3 to 3 ½ feet tall when on all four feet
• Roam areas between 7 and 15 square miles
• Typically live up to 25 years in the wild
• They are most active at dawn and dusk

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