Autumn 2026

It's been a rough berry season across the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. According to Fish and Wildlife experts this year is panning out to be one of the worst natural food failure years on record. From Teton Valley to Star Valley to Jackson Hole, natural food sources like huckleberries and serviceberries have failed to produce this year and black bears are noticing.

With their usual food sources running dry, bears are widening their search, moving out of the wild and into neighborhoods, looking for anything that smells like a meal. That includes your trash cans, bird feeders, pet food, and grills.

A bear that finds food in your yard once will be back for more and once bears associate neighborhoods with easy meals, it puts them, your family, and your pets at risk. The reality is that securing attractants is both a personal responsibility and a neighborhood and community obligation. If only one person in a neighborhood ignores unsecured attractants, that can lead to problems for everyone. If you don't want bears in your yard, the fix starts with you. Secure your trash, bring in bird feeders, don't leave pet food outside, and clean up around grills. A few minutes of prevention keeps bears wild and keeps them moving through instead of moving in.

Written by JHBS Volunteer Tristen Vega-Moffett