Lassen Volcanic National Park Has A Bear Problem

Above, a bear at Yellowstone Bear World in Idaho. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Let's face it, forests in this country are the domain of several species of bears. It is man who is the intruder.

Right now, Lassen Volcanic National Park in northern California has a bear problem. Much of it is the fault of park visitors for not taking adequate precautions.

Above, a bear-resistant container at Lassen's Manzanita Lake Campground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

National Parks Traveler reported:

The amount of Lassen Volcanic National Park backcountry closed to overnight use due to a bear or bears obtaining food from backpackers has been greatly expanded to encompass most of the eastern half of the park. 

Earlier this month the park closed an area of one mile in all directions from the following lakes frequently accessed from Summit Lake Trailhead: Echo, Upper Twin, Lower Twin, Swan, and Rainbow Lake.  

"There have been multiple reports from visitors of a bear (or bears) coming into campsites and searching backpacks for food in these areas," park staff reported at the time. "This is a learned behavior from visitors leaving scented items in their backpacks and not storing them in proper bear-resistant containers." 

Now, because of additional reports of troublesome bears, the park has closed the area east of Lassen National Park Highway (CA State Highway 89) and east of Hat Creek and Kings Creek to overnight backpacking use. This closure does not impact day use including hiking and stock use or camping within developed campgrounds. 

“We have received additional reports of human-bear interactions from outside the original closure area,” said Lassen Volcanic Superintendent Jim Richardson. “It is necessary to expand the area of the closure in an effort to prevent more negative interactions,” Richardson added. 

Lassen Volcanic is home to a population of approximately 30 black bears; there are no brown or grizzly bears in the park. Information about black bears in the park is provided in large part by wildlife sighting reports submitted by visitors. 

I camped at Lassen's Manzanita Lake Campground three years ago and each campsite had a bear-resistant container for visitors' use. Even though I camped in a motorhome and didn't really need it, I made use of it anyway so that a foraging bear wouldn't scratch up the motorhome.

Above, The Beast at Lassen Volcanic National Park in Devastated Area. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

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