BLAINE COUNTY, Idaho — The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is holding three community training courses for the use of bear spray in the Wood River Valley.
"Each year, human-wildlife conflict reports come into Fish and Game offices involving food-conditioned bears or mountain lions. These conflicts can and do cause public safety concerns in Idaho communities and surrounding wildlands. To promote safety for people, pets and wildlife, Idaho Fish and Game, Magic Valley Region, and the Idaho Fish and Wildlife Foundation, are joining together to provide personal safety information as well as bear spray trainings that can be used to keep people safe around wildlife," a news release stated.
The trainings are free, begin at 6 p.m. and last about an hour and a half. People need to pre-register for the event by calling the Magic Valley office at (208) 324-4359. Forty free cans of bear spray will be given away. IDFG also asks people to bring their own lawn chair. Each training has space for 40 residents.
"Each training will focus on black bear and mountain lion biology and behavior, with hands-on training using inert bear spray canisters," the release stated.
Meeting places are, the Sawtooth National Recreation Area Headquarters on July 11, in Ketchum at Warm Springs Preserve on July 25 and in Hailey at the Community Campus on August 8.
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