PORT ANGELES, Wash. (AP) - Olympic National Park says it has closed a remote area to camping after recent visitor reports of black bears approaching hikers and eating human food.
Spokeswoman Barb Maynes says several visitors to the Enchanted Valley have reported seeing at least one bear eating human food and trash. Others have described seeing bears that seemed unafraid of people.
Park Superintendent Sarah Creachbaum said Friday that bears that eat human food consider people as a food source “and are extremely dangerous.”
The park says the Enchanted Valley area is closed to all camping between Pyrites Creek and the O’Neill Pass trail junction. The six-mile section of trail between the two locations remains open for hiking.
The camping closure will last for 30 days. Rangers and wildlife biologists will monitor the situation.
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