Hard-sided Camping Allowed at Rising Sun Campground

Date: August 9, 2013
Contact: Denise Germann, 406-888-5838

The Rising Sun Campground, located on the east side of the park, will be available to hard-sided camping only as of 9 a.m. tomorrow morning, Saturday, August 10.

Recent bear incidents at the campground prompted a closure of the facility on Tuesday, August 6. A small sub-adult black bear has been involved with some incidents in the campground and area within the last month.

This past weekend a bear, believed to be a small sub-adult black bear, approached and laid on a corner of a tent that was occupied by sleeping campers. The campers awoke and started yelling, and observed a black bear running from the tent. There have been two other incidents in the campground and surrounding area, all believed to be with the same bear. One incident involved the bear snatching a pillow from a sleeping camper, and the other incident involved the bear going through some clothing that was located along the lakeshore. The incidents included no injuries. It appears that the bear is not looking for a food reward, or that it has received one, but it is learning to approach and handle human materials.  

Park rangers and wildlife managers initiated some aversive conditioning, or negative reinforcement, to attempt to modify the bear’s behavior. This conditioning will be on-going in the area of the campground. It is unknown when hard-sided camping limitation will be lifted in the campground. 

Glacier National Park is home to black and grizzly bears. Campers are reminded to keep campground and developed areas clean and free of food and trash.  Regulations require that all edibles, food containers, and cookware be stored in a hard-sided vehicle or food locker when not in use, day or night. Place all trash in bear-proof containers. Do not burn waste in fire rings or leave litter around your camp. Fire rings should be free of trash before vacating a campsite. All bear sightings should be reported to a park ranger.  

For more information about camping or hiking in bear country while recreating in Glacier National Park, visit https://www.nps.gov/glac/naturescience/bears.htm. For updated information about campgrounds and campground status, please visit https:///www.nps.gov/applications/glac/cgstatus/cgstatus.cfm or contact the park at 406-888-7800.