I just saw a bear. Should I report it?

Bear sightings are common, but if you see one that concerns you, please report it.

Related story: Is it safe to camp in Utah?

Three weeks after a fatal bear attack in north-central Utah, black bears are still being spotted across the state.

And with weeks of summer left to go, there's no reason to believe the number of bear sightings will go down anytime soon.

If a bear acts in a way that concerns you, please report it.

Which brings up a question: if you see a bear, should you report it to someone? And who should you report it to?

DWR wants to know

If you see a bear, Kevin Bunnell, mammals program coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources, asks you to err on the side of caution.

"If you see a bear that's acting in a way that concerns you, or you see a bear in an area that people visit on a regular basis, please call us," Bunnell says. "After learning what you saw, we'll decide what action to take."

Bunnell also encourages you to report the sighting as soon as possible.

"The faster we can respond to a bear sighting, the greater chance we have of handling the situation quickly and efficiently. A quick call also gives us a better chance of finding the right bear," he says.

"Letting us know as soon as possible is better for you and the bear."

Whom to call

Calling the nearest DWR office is the quickest way to report a sighting. However, if you need to report bear activity in the evening or on a weekend, call the nearest police department. The department will dispatch a DWR conservation officer to the area.

DWR office telephone numbers are as follows (the offices are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays through Fridays):

• Ogden office: (801) 476-2740
• Salt Lake City office: (801) 538-4700
• Springville office: (801) 491-5678
• Vernal office: (435) 781-9453
• Price office: (435) 636-0260
• Cedar City office: (435) 865-6100

Free bear safety brochure

Campers and cabin owners are reminded to keep their campsites and cabin areas clean and to never intentionally feed bears.

More information about how to stay safe in black bear country is available in the DWR's free "Living in Black Bear Country" brochure. The brochure is available on the Web at wildlife.utah.gov/bear and at any DWR office.