Black Bears at Camp Shehaqua

Hickory Run State Park is home to black bears. Although they appear cute and cuddly like a teddy bear, black bears are wild animals. Black bears normally avoid people, but if they smell an easy meal, they will be attracted. Aromatic scents can attract a curious and hungry bear from a great distance.

Bear sightings have been rare at Shehaqua Family Camps. Please help us keep it that way by following these measures:

In Case of an Encounter:

• Avoid a bear encounter by making noise to warn bears of your presence (sing, clap, or talk aloud).
• If you encounter a bear that is not aware of your presence, back away and leave the area.
• If you encounter a bear at close range, stay calm and don't run. Speak to the bear in a calm, assertive voice. Remain upright and back away from the bear.
• Never approach a bear, especially a mother bear and cubs.
• Never throw food or other objects toward the bear
• Stay calm, bears usually just want to be left alone. Their vision is relatively poor, they have to recognize you are a human
• Do not run from a bear; stay together as a group, clap your hands and shout loudly while backing away slowly

Preventive Measures:

• Food and scented items must be locked in cars with windows rolled all the way up. Better to use the trunk. Best to store them in the Dining Hall
• Don’t litter the area with food wrappers
• All the food garbage outside the dining hall needs to be put in the dumpster near the sports field every night
• The dining hall needs to be locked at night