Bear raid shuts Beehive Lakes area
<p>A map of the closed area near Beehive Lakes Trail. (Map courtesy USFS)</p>
SANDPOINT — The U.S. Forest Service is temporarily closing two trails north of Sandpoint after a bear raided a campsite near the Beehive Lakes Trail.
The affected area is located in the vicinity of Beehive Lakes and Harrison Lake, located in Boundary County east of Priest Lake.
The Beehive Lakes are accessed by Trail No. 279 and Harrison Lake is accessed by Trail No. 217.
The closures will remain in effect until further notice, according to the Idaho Panhandle National Forests.
The suspected species of bear that removed camping equipment and food from the campsite was not disclosed. The date of the incursion was also withheld.
The Forest Service is reminding visitors that there is a mandatory food storage order in effect from April 1 through December every year. All food and beverages — including canned items — must be stored in a bear-resistant containers at night and when unattended.
The food storage order also applies to garbage, grease, processed livestock, pet food and scented toiletries.
The order was enacted in 2011 in the Sandpoint, Priest Lake and Bonners Ferry ranger districts to reduce the potential for human-wildlife conflicts.
The Forest Service counsels visitors to use caution when traveling in bear country. It’s not uncommon to see bears, which can be unpredictable at times.
Temporary closures are the first step on ensuring public and bear safety when problematic encounters occur, according to the Forest Service.
For more information, contact the Sandpoint Ranger District at 263-5111 or visit the IPNF website (www.fs.usda.gov/ipnf).