Be Bear Aware

The Missouri Department of Conservation wants to help you to discover nature and become bear aware.
One of the state’s largest wild mammals, black bears have been seen in more than half of Missouri’s counties, though most are south of the Missouri River.
Black bears generally are dangerous only when they lose their natural fear of people, which usually results from access to human food.
Campers can avoid problems with bears by being bear aware.
Just a few things to keep in mind.
If you minimize your food odors and minimize the ability of an animal to get to food sources it’s just going to make your camping that much more pleasurable.
Be bear aware!
Follow these few simple rules on your next outdoor adventure:
Minimize odors; cook away from your campsite.
Take your food, and items such as toothpaste or deodorant, and put it out of reach of a bear either in the trunk of a car or hoist your food up a tree.
Never attempt to feed a bear or any other wild animal.
Remember, a fed bear is a dead bear.